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Who is a Merchandiser?
Advertising moves people toward goods; merchandising moves goods toward people ~ Morris Hite
A Merchandiser is a professional who is responsible for optimising the sales of the store or business. He or she ensures that the retail and online stores are stocked up and analyses the sales data to improve and promote sales strategies. A Merchandiser is required to work closely with the buyers, suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers to provide customer services.
Merchandiser in this career is also expected to monitor the product appearance and arrange and maintain product displays, and product pricing. He or she must have excellent analytical skills and a service-oriented approach. A Merchandiser plays an important role in maximising profits by setting up the prices and managing the performance of the ranges, promotions planning and markdown.
Quick Facts for Merchandiser
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Industry
Fashion, Design, Marketing, Manufacturing
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Average Salary in India
₹28500
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as a merchandiser is suitable for every gender. Merchandising jobs require candidates with good communication skills, organisation skills, and critical analysis skills, which are not biased toward a specific gender.
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Any special needs
Yes
People with special needs might find the job challenging since in a career as a merchandiser, one is required to meet several people regularly and manage one or more store branches while making strategic decisions related to sales of the store.
Table of Contents for Merchandiser
What is the role of Merchandiser?
The merchandiser roles and responsibilities are to set prices and plan promotions and markdowns according to the requirements of the store or a brand. He or she also supervises the delivery and stock distribution of product stock along with dealing with the suppliers. In addition to this, a merchandiser monitors the stock levels of the product.
A merchandiser plans the product prices, purchases budgets, stocks with his or her buyers and prepares the sales.
Plans and executes merchandising strategies to meet the requirements of the customers.
Analyses the customer reactions and market trends and forecasts the sales, profits and plan budgets.
Builds relationships with customers and teams with channel partners for the closing deals.
Stay up-to-date with the best industry practices.
Types of a Merchandiser
Here are several types of merchandisers or career options related to them with their job descriptions.
Fashion Merchandiser: Fashion merchandisers are involved in activities related to fashion forecasting. The prime responsibilities of a fashion merchandiser are to speculate upcoming fashion trends, to design and develop a new plan accordingly, to create new samples for testing, and to plan their production to get more efficiency.
Product Merchandiser: A product merchandiser is responsible for handling the complete process right from receiving the order to fulfilling the shipment. The product merchandiser is responsible for communicating with every department and resolving their issues.
Retail Merchandiser: A retail merchandiser takes care of the buyers at the final stage and helps in purchasing the right product in the right amount to the right customer at the right price. A retail merchandiser is responsible for providing information to customers, producers, and everyone in the middle.
What is the workplace/work environment of Merchandiser like?
In a career as a merchandiser, one is required to closely work with the display staff to decide in what way a product would be displayed so that sales can be maximised. In small brands or local retail stores, a merchandiser is responsible for both merchandising and selling. The merchandiser works in a corporate environment with a regular 9 to 5 job.
Does Merchandiser require travelling?
Likely
Merchandisers are occasionally required to travel to perform client meetings and manage different retail stores. Other than that, they do not travel often.
Time Pressure
Likely
Merchandisers are likely to face time pressure since their work is dynamic and requires various last-minute changes. Handling meetings with buyers while coordinating with all the departments of the retail store comes in quite handy. Generally, merchandisers do not work overtime but have a normal 9-5 schedule. However, due to deadlines approaching or workload, merchandisers might choose to work overtime.
How to become a Merchandiser?
Steps to become a Merchandiser
A Merchandiser is a professional who plans, coordinates and executes promotional strategies to sell products. If you are passionate about learning marketing, promoting products and selling then this career is one of the best options for you. Below we have provided the steps on how to become a Merchandiser in India.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Merchandiser?
In this section, we have discussed several Merchandiser skills that an individual is required to possess to function effectively in this career.
Communication Skills: As a merchandiser, one is required to meet various people in a single day from various departments to maintain coherence, and finalise the stock details, and purchasing plans of the store. Hence, having good communication skills is very important to succeed in a career as a merchandiser.
Financial Skills: A merchandiser is required to plan the product prices, and prepare the sales and stock plan with their buyers. A merchandiser also negotiates product prices from buyers, forecasts profit and sales and reports it to the concerned sales head. To complete these skills, a fair knowledge of finance is required.
Critical Thinking Skills: Critical thinking skills are an essential part of a career in merchandising since a merchandiser is required to analyse the bestselling price points, colours and styles of the products. He or she also keeps an eye on the products with less profit and comes up with effective measures to reduce prices and set promotions for those products.
Attention to Detail: Apart from exhibiting creativity for the store layouts, merchandisers are also required to possess a keen eye for details that are usually left behind. The everyday responsibilities of a merchandiser require knowing what the market trends are and what customers tend to buy more.
Working Under Pressure: Consumer markets are constantly changing, implying that deadlines can be strict for merchandisers. Merchandising is a demanding role that requires them to keep reps on their toes daily. Hence, being organised and working well under pressure are the keys to succeeding in a career as a merchandiser.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Merchandiser?
Internship Availability
Merchandising is a vast field with a plethora of opportunities for internships for students. From leading retailers to small local stores, everybody hires interns to handle the basic merchandising work. Students participate in these internship programmes and work as assistants for the managing director, sales team or merchandising manager.
Students can choose the company apply on various job portals and gain hands-on experience. Pursuing an internship will provide you with industry insight and make you confident about your dream career. As an intern, you will get opportunities to explore the various tasks carried out by the merchandisers.
Merchandiser Jobs and Salaries
Junior Merchandiser
Senior Merchandiser
What is the job outlook for Merchandiser?
According to the Invest India, a national investment promotion and facilitation agency, in the last 10 years, the retail market in India has undergone a major transformation which has led to tremendous growth. The increase in the demand for organised retail space has developed a capacity of ~120 Mn square feet (MSF) in retail space across major Indian cities. The retail sector in India accounts for over 10% of the country’s GDP and is expected to create 25 Mn new jobs by 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions for Merchandiser
Que. What are the top design entrance exams in India?
Ans.Some of the top design entrance exams in India are the National Institute of Design - Design Aptitude Test (NID-DAT), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Entrance test, All India Entrance Examination for Design (AIEED), PAF Entrance Test and Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED).
Que. Are internships available in merchandising?
Ans.From leading retailers to small local stores, everybody hires interns to handle the basic merchandising work. Students participate in these internship programmes and work as assistants for the managing director, sales team or merchandising manager.
Que. What does a merchandiser do?
Ans.A merchandiser is a professional who supervises the number of products present or to be present in a store or at a retail website. A career as a merchandiser involves making sure whether the products arrive on time or not.
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Did you know?
Fact 3
Merchandising is a creative process that involves deciding on or purchasing items for sale in the retails, determining their prices, and developing advertising or marketing in order to ensure that products sell.
Fact 4
Fashion merchandising requires being aware of the target market for the particular fashion product.
Fact 1
Most fashion merchandising work involves the juggling of past, present, and future.
Fact 2
Merchandising is not limited to shopping, the merchandisers are also required to analyse and create a complex business plan aimed at specific customers.
Fact 3
Merchandising is a creative process that involves deciding on or purchasing items for sale in the retails, determining their prices, and developing advertising or marketing in order to ensure that products sell.
Fact 4
Fashion merchandising requires being aware of the target market for the particular fashion product.
Fact 1
Most fashion merchandising work involves the juggling of past, present, and future.
Fact 2
Merchandising is not limited to shopping, the merchandisers are also required to analyse and create a complex business plan aimed at specific customers.
