A merchandiser is a professional who monitors inventory levels and product displays in retail stores and submits warehouse reports for approval. They are responsible for everything that happens to a product from the moment it is delivered to the store to the moment a shopper picks it up off the shelf. The main duties of a merchandiser include:
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Planning and developing merchandising strategies: This involves analyzing sales figures, customer reactions, and market trends to anticipate product needs. Merchandisers collaborate with buyers, suppliers, distributors, and analysts to negotiate prices, quantities, and time-scales.
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Analyzing sales figures, customers reactions, and market trends: Merchandisers analyze sales figures, customer reactions, and market trends to anticipate product needs.
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Collaborating with buyers, suppliers, distributors, and analysts: Merchandisers collaborate with buyers, suppliers, distributors, and analysts to negotiate prices, quantities, and time-scales.
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Producing sales by providing point-of-purchase and shelf management services: Merchandisers ensure that the right product is in the right place, time, quantity, and price. They plan and develop merchandising strategies that balance customers expectations and company objectives.
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Managing product ranges, inventory, displays, and promotions: Merchandisers plan and manage product ranges, inventory, displays, and promotions. They collaborate with buyers, suppliers, analysts, and retail teams to have the right product in the right place at the right time.
To become a merchandiser, one can work either directly for a company or for a specialized agency. Many stores create their own merchandising departments, but in some cases, they rely on a third-party agency to develop larger creative displays. A merchandising role may open up a wide range of advancement opportunities.
