Profession merchandiser

Merchandisers are responsible for positioning goods following standards and procedures.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Sales strategies

    The principles concerning customer behaviour and target markets with the aim of promotion and sales of a product or a service.

  • Merchandising techniques

    The selling techniques to attract customers and increase sales.

Skills

  • Monitor stock movement

    Keep track of stock movements from the moment when products are put on sale and ready for distribution.

  • Carry out stock rotation

    Execute repositioning of packaged and perishable products with an earlier sell-by date to the front of a shelf.

  • Maintain relationship with suppliers

    Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.

  • Check price accuracy on the shelf

    Ensure accurate and correctly labelled prices for the products on the shelves

  • Have computer literacy

    Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

  • Visit manufacturers

    Visit manufacturers in order to learn about production process and to assess product quality.

  • Show diplomacy

    Deal with people in a sensitive and tactful way.

  • Carry out sales analysis

    Examine sales reports to see what goods and services have and have not sold well.

  • Carry out cross merchandising

    Place a particular item in more than one location within the store, in order to attract customer attention and increase sales.

  • Negotiate terms with suppliers

    Identify and work with suppliers to ensure quality of supply and best price has been negotiated.

  • Monitor merchandise delivery

    Follow up logistical organisation of products; ensure that products have been transported in a correct and timely fashion.

  • Plan retail space

    Effectively distribute retail space allotted to particular categories.

  • Maintain relationship with customers

    Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.

  • Interpret floor plans

    Be able to think three-dimensionally; understand the results of moving the position of objects and patterns on floor plans.

  • Execute visual presentation changes

    Prepare and execute visual presentation changes by moving items, changing shelving and fixtures, changing signs, adding and removing decorative accessories, etc.

  • Meet deadlines

    Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

  • Negotiate buying conditions

    Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

  • Assess visual impact of displays

    Analyse feedback from customers and co-workers on the visual impact of displays and showcases; implement changes where needed.

  • Perform market research

    Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

  • Negotiate with suppliers for visual material

    Negotiate with suppliers on the delivery of visual equipment; stay within the budget at all times.

  • Keep records of merchandise delivery

    Keep records of goods deliveries; report discrepancies to control costs in order to maintain correct inventory levels.

  • Stock shelves

    Refill shelves with merchandise to be sold.

  • Maximise sales revenues

    Increase possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.

  • Keep promotions records

    Keep records on sales information and distribution of materials. File reports on customer reactions to their employers' products and promotions; present these reports to their managers.

  • Supervise merchandise displays

    Work closely together with visual display staff to decide how items should be displayed, in order to maximise customer interest and product sales.

Optional knowledge and skills

liaise with buyers to plan products for the store change window displays address problems critically monitor stock level organise retail sampling events ensure stock storage safety decide on products to be stocked price product ensure point of sale material availability set sales promotions train staff about product features analyse bestsellers

Source: Sisyphus ODB