Merchandiser: Salary and Career Profile
Merchandisers usually work in the retail industry, but much of their job involves fundamental marketing concepts. Pursuing a merchandiser career is not only a good short-term choice, but it’s also a stepping stone to higher-level marketing jobs.
Merchandisers help product manufacturers reach marketing and sales goals by ensuring their products are properly displayed in retail outlets and executing promotional campaigns.
Job Outlook for Merchandisers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall employment for the retail sector is projected to remain steady in the coming years. Growth will be driven by consumer demand for goods and services. The best merchandiser career opportunities will be for job seekers with specialized skills or advanced education.
Job Duties
Merchandisers are responsible for driving sales by creating product displays that stand out from the competition. They also must ensure products are accessible to customers. Merchandisers work with stock personnel to gather the items to be displayed; they also collaborate with salespeople to analyze business needs and determine which products to feature. Merchandisers must be creative, and often have artistic talents to create attractive displays. Some merchandisers use basic construction skills to build elaborate displays using special signage, shelves, cutouts and lighting to increase product awareness.
Merchandisers must also communicate closely with retail store management to solve problems regarding shelf placement of a product, or incorrect pricing policies or signage. Merchandisers sometimes travel among a number of stores within a geographic area. They are usually scheduled to deliver products, create displays and rotate stock at each retail outlet on a daily basis. Merchandiser careers are suitable for those in good physical condition, since a great deal of their work day involves standing, walking, bending, reaching and lifting.
Merchandiser Salary Potential
Merchandiser salaries vary by industry, experience and other factors. National salary data on PayScale.com showed that total yearly pay for merchandisers ranged between $22,561 and $34,943 as of July 2010. However, Salary.com findings from November 2009 indicated that experienced visual merchandisers had a median income of $45,765, with the middle 50% earning between $36,204 and $55,939.
Education and Training Required for Merchandiser Careers
Education requirements for merchandiser careers differ based on industry and company size. Previous experience, along with a high school diploma or equivalent, may satisfy some employers’ needs, while others may require a college degree. Job seekers without experience can often leverage an associate’s degree in marketing or a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in marketing to land a merchandiser job. Individuals with a degree in marketing often have the best chances with prestigious or national firms.
Many employers prefer to hire candidates with at least an associate’s degree in marketing. Coursework typically includes statistics, accounting, writing, economics, social science and a variety of marketing topics.
A marketing education prepares graduates to:
- Analyze product demand in relation to market segment.
- Develop marketing, strategic and staffing plans.
- Deploy fundamental marketing principles to advance company goals.
- Tap into critical-thinking skills to solve problems.
- Transition into a bachelor’s in marketing program.
Many firms offer opportunities for continuing education. It’s possible to gain an entry-level job with an associate’s degree and use an employer’s tuition assistance program to pay for a bachelor’s degree.
Is Becoming a Merchandiser Part of Your Career Plan?
If you’re creative, have a good grasp of marketing concepts and are self-directed, a merchandiser career could be a great fit for you. To succeed in this role, it’s also important to be a good communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail, and the ability to work closely with a broad range of personality types.
