4 jobs found for Merchandiser

all about merchandiser jobs.

If you have an analytical mind and a flair for pattern recognition, you might enjoy working as a merchandiser. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring there is enough product on the shelves and that new product is ordered at the right time. This profession can be fast-paced, with plenty of variation from day to day.

what do merchandiser jobs entail?

Merchandisers are responsible for keeping the shelves stocked and the warehouses full in retail operations. Beyond that fundamental responsibility, you also analyze sales figures, customer reactions, and market trends in order to anticipate demand for your products. You will also be responsible for collaborating with suppliers and distributors to negotiate quantities, prices, and time scales.

what is a typical work schedule for merchandisers

For the most part, your schedule will stick to a typical 40-hour workweek falling between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Unlike retail floor salespeople, you will not be dealing directly with customers, so you won't need to be available during store opening hours. That being said, overtime will be necessary from time to time. There will also likely be some travel requirements as you will need to meet with suppliers and manufacturers.

what are the pros of merchandiser jobs?

• A sense of satisfaction: Being a merchandiser gives you clear goals to achieve and immediate feedback. People who work in this role report a sense of satisfaction at meeting tight deadlines and negotiating better prices with manufacturers and suppliers.
• Social aspect: Being a merchandiser is an inherently social role. You will deal with many people during your work, both in your office and on the road. You will be meeting with suppliers and manufacturers to talk sales and meeting with your managers to deliver sales reports. If you're the kind of person who enjoys being around other people, you should find plenty of that here.
• Travel: If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to spend all of your time sitting behind a desk, you might enjoy the travelling aspect of being a merchandiser. You will have to head out to meet suppliers and manufacturers from time to time, and that will involve travelling to various locations away from your office.

what are the cons of merchandiser jobs?

• Lower pay: Even the highest-earning merchandisers in Canada fall short of the national average salary. The average merchandiser, of course, earns less than that. This shouldn't be seen as a deal-breaker, however, as the experience earned in this profession can help you if you decide to move on to other things.
• Tight deadlines can be stressful: You will likely find yourself running into tight deadlines on a regular basis in this profession. If you struggle with stress, this aspect of the role may cause you problems. However, if you can handle that stress, having this profession on your resume demonstrates that to future employers.
• Constant pressure: Many professions have deadlines, but being a merchandiser entails constant pressure, as the buying and selling cycle never stops. You will need to be able to deal with the pressures of your role without the expectation of any significant lulls in those pressures.

what are common merchandiser interview questions?

Acing your interview is the kind of thing that, for most people, will take a little planning and preparation. Of course, you can't expect to be able to prepare for every question, but you can put some thought into the most common questions you are likely to be asked. Here are some examples:

• What technology are you comfortable using? The role of merchandising has changed significantly in recent times thanks to the ever-evolving scope of technology. Technology is going to continue to play a big role in marketing, and your employer will want to get a sense of how good you are with technology.
• If a client wanted their display set up a certain way, but it didn't match the layout of your store, what would you do? Your interviewer may ask this question as a way to gauge your problem-solving skills. Things won't always run smoothly in this line of work, and your employer needs to know you can deal with the situation when that happens.
• If a product isn't selling, how would you handle it? The main reason your interviewer would ask this question is to get a sense of your sales knowledge. Knowing how to handle a product not selling well is a big part of your responsibilities.

merchandiser resume and cover letter requirements

You will need to write a good cover letter, as well as a resume that contains all the relevant information, to get an interview. The anatomy of a good cover letter is a detailed topic but can be summed up by highlighting the need to keep things neatly formatted, error-free, and concise. Introduce yourself, elaborate a little on any highlights from your resume, and talk about why you feel you'll be a good fit for the organization.

Avoiding resume mistakes is important but not difficult. Mostly it is just about ensuring the relevant information about your past employment and qualifications is included. Make sure to include the following:

• Name and contact information
• Brief summary of experience/skills
• Employment history
• Education/qualifications
• Awards/certifications
• Examples of accomplishments
• Social media accounts (if work-related)
• Work-related skills

what is the job outlook for merchandisers?

The job outlook for merchandisers is good, largely because the demand for this profession is expected to grow over the next decade or so, increasing the number of opportunities there are for you. This is largely because the consumer demand for goods is not expected to diminish. There are also positive prospects if you look longer term. For those who want to move on from this profession in the long run, there is lots of valuable experience to be had as a merchandiser that should serve you well when applying to other related roles.

what are the different types of merchandiser jobs?

Being a merchandiser can involve wearing many hats, so to speak. There is a good chance you will find yourself performing the functions of all of the types listed below, particularly if you work for a smaller organization. That being said, the role of merchandiser can be broken up into specific subtypes, including:

• Product merchandiser: Product merchandising relates to promotional activities aimed at boosting sales of a product. The core function of the role is unchanged by what the product is or whether you are selling online or in a store.
• Retail merchandiser: This type of merchandising refers specifically to selling products in a physical store (rather than online). It includes all promotional activities one might use to sell products.
• Visual merchandiser: This type of merchandising centres around the act of highlighting a product's features using visual means. This can include promotional displays, online advertisements, and more.
• Omnichannel merchandiser: Omnichannel merchandising is the act of creating a unified customer experience around a product, regardless of the sales channel.
• Digital merchandiser: Digital marketing includes promotional activity online and using various digital media, such as email marketing. This is an increasingly important type of merchandiser role as more businesses move partially or entirely online.

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what is the average salary for a merchandiser?

The average salary for a merchandiser in Canada is around $35,500 per year. This average stems from a typical hourly rate of $18.50 and 40 hours per week. For less-experienced and entry-level merchandiser roles, you can expect to earn at least $33,000 per year, while the highest-paid merchandisers can earn as much as $49,000 per year. Higher numbers of people employed at the lower end of that scale indicate how much turnover there is in this profession. Many people will move on to another role before reaching the level of seniority required to reach those $49,000 per year numbers.

average merchandiser salaries in canada

• annual: $35,500
• monthly: $2,960
• weekly: $740
• hourly: $18.50

Top paying areas for merchandisers in Canada include: Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba.

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what are the duties and responsibilities of merchandisers?

You will have many responsibilities as a merchandiser, though the exact duties you will have may vary depending on the job. You should find that your role includes some or all of the following:

• Plan and develop merchandising strategies: The bread and butter of your role will be planning and developing merchandising strategies. You will be looking to balance customer expectations with company objectives in your ultimate goal of selling products.
• Collaborate with suppliers: Suppliers, distributors, buyers, and analysts are all people you will need to collaborate with to negotiate the best prices, quantities, and time scales.
• Maximize customer interest: Selling products may be your ultimate goal, but there will be many other goals in the pursuit of it. One of these is increasing customer interest in your organization's product. Achieving this can range from full promotional campaigns to simply changing the placement of a product in the store.
• Analyze sales figures: You won't be able to achieve the goals of your position without adequate information. Part of your role will involve analyzing sales figures to see what is working and what isn't. This also includes analyzing market trends and changes in buying habits.
• Create layout plans: If you are working in physical stores, you will likely need to come up with layout plans for products in those stores. The placement of products can have a significant impact on sales.
• Make sales forecasts: Using your insight and the data you have access to, you make sales forecasts to determine which products to stock and in what quantities.
• Stay up to date with industry best practices: The world of merchandising changes constantly as new technologies emerge and laws change. You will need to stay up to date with everything that's going on.

where do merchandisers typically work?

Your work environment will depend entirely on the type of merchandiser role you are filling. If you are working for an organization that exclusively sells online, your primary work environment will be office-based. If you are working for a brick-and-mortar retailer, you may still have an office, but you should also expect to spend a lot of time on the shop floor. Regardless of your primary location, you will travel as part of your job, so the road should be considered part of your work environment.

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what skills and competencies do merchandisers need?

Being a merchandiser requires a number of skills if you are to succeed. Fortunately, these are all skills you can develop (if you don't already have them). They include:

• Problem-solving: Whether it's dealing with supplier issues or making last-minute changes to shop-floor displays, you will need to be good at problem-solving and thinking on your feet.
• Good communication: A big part of your role involves dealing with suppliers, distributors, management, and even customers on occasion. Therefore, you will need solid communication skills to make sure everything runs smoothly.
• Pattern recognition: You will have access to a lot of sales data, but that data is only useful to you if you know how to interpret it. Being able to assess data will be a crucial part of your job.
• Computer competence: Being computer literate is an inescapable requirement for modern merchandising, even if you are not working for an online seller. You won't necessarily need to have expertise in a specific software package, but you will need to be able to pick up new computer skills quickly.
• Good under pressure: Whether it's impending deadlines or dealing with unforeseen supplier problems, you will need to be good at working under pressure. This occupation is far from the most stressful one out there, but there you need to be able to deal with constant pressure to succeed.

what training and certifications do merchandisers need?

Merchandising - and, indeed, most marketing-related fields - is highly competitive, which means the entry-level requirements can seem somewhat steep, especially considering the average salary for this role. You will likely need at least a bachelor's degree in marketing or a similar topic to get started as a merchandiser. You will probably also need some experience working in merchandising - typically 2 to 3 years.

It's worth noting that this role is often seen as a necessary stop on the way to other more lucrative professions rather than an endpoint in itself. Requiring years of experience and a bachelor's degree for $30,000 to $40,000 per year may seem like a lot, but the experience gained in this role will be invaluable when moving on to bigger things.

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