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Divisional merchandise manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Joe Moore Ph.D.,

Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical divisional merchandise manager skills. We ranked the top skills for divisional merchandise managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.9% of divisional merchandise manager resumes contained margin as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a divisional merchandise manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 divisional merchandise manager skills for your resume and career

1. Margin

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use margin:

Developed comprehensive marketing plan including print and digital, utilizing negotiated funding to support events and driving additional revenue and margin.
Maximized profitability by increasing mark-up and gross margin.

2. DMM

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use dmm:

Promoted first to Shoe Division Lead and then to DMM of Men's, Ladies', and Kids' Shoes.

3. Divisional Merchandise

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use divisional merchandise:

Promoted to Chicago Buying Office as Assistant Buyer, promoted to Seattle Division as Buyer and later as Divisional Merchandise Manager.
Promoted to Divisional Merchandise Manager, and led a team of four buyers.

4. Gross Margin

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use gross margin:

Ensured the highest level of customer service resulting in gross margins of 58% and sales volume of $16 million.
Designed, developed and implemented financial plans for apparel and accessories that attained appropriate gross margins by department and vendor.

5. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use product development:

Led the division on seasonal merchandising strategies and product development process to deliver financial results in alignment with overall company strategy.
Coordinated product development and retail presentation as a total brand presentation across multiple licensees.

6. Store Operations

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use store operations:

Traveled to markets to evaluate store operations, competition, and customer feedback to assist buying and merchandising team.
Coordinated with Store operations to plan and execute sales conference to educate store managers on product focus and strategies.

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7. Market Trends

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use market trends:

Help provide guidance on rankings of key styles based on historical data, current product performance and market trends.
Led sales management seminars/meetings regarding market trends; served on the Strategic Planning Committee.

8. Strategic Direction

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use strategic direction:

Created an environment that promoted personal development of buyers and their businesses and provided leadership and strategic direction to buying team.
Provided strategic direction necessary to effectively compete in a very competitive marketplace.

9. Sales Growth

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use sales growth:

Provided sales growth and optimization while ensuring distinctive, dominant and exclusive merchandise assortments.
Key strategic contributor to over 230% sales growth and 150% store growth while a merchant.

10. Financial Objectives

Financial objectives are a company's financial goals and aims regarding the future. These objectives are determined and achieved through financial planning. Corporations normally set milestones for the fiscal year and build strategies and plan to fulfill those milestones.

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use financial objectives:

Led buying teams to achieve financial objectives for hardware, home improvement, automotive appearance and vehicle maintenance businesses.
Ensured marketing efforts supported the financial objectives of the division.

11. E-Commerce

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use e-commerce:

Managed a team of buyers who were responsible for the planning and buying for 29 brick & mortar stores and e-commerce.
Direct men s apparel $100 million merchandising strategy for KingSize, a Top 100 E-commerce retailer in the US.

12. Direct Reports

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use direct reports:

Coached career development of direct reports articulating both team and individual goals to maximize team performance while providing individual growth opportunities.
Developed and managed a team of direct reports including a designer, merchandiser, planner, allocation analyst and assistant.

13. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use product knowledge:

Implemented merchandising direction and product knowledge for division.
Create business focuses, implement merchandising direction and teach product knowledge for the region.

14. Inventory Management

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use inventory management:

Led and managed a team of 15 in 2 geographically disperse locations in forecasting and inventory management.
Directed purchasing and inventory management for all stores in this high-end retail chain.

15. Comp

Here's how divisional merchandise managers use comp:

Produced 7% growth in 2009 the only positive comps in the company.
Increased comp store sales first year by 36%, sales were flat previous year.

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What skills help Divisional Merchandise Managers find jobs?

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What skills stand out on divisional merchandise manager resumes?

Joe Moore Ph.D.

Professor of Communication Program Coordinator, Digital Media Production, University of Central Missouri

Well, first I would strongly urge them to reconsider taking a gap year. If we are in a pandemic and go into another shutdown, where are you going to work? If you're thinking you'll just go to school at a community college and work on your gen eds, how are you going to do that if they are shut down, too? But, if they DO take a gap year, I would encourage students to work on their writing. That's the skill we see that students struggle with the most, and in talking with employers, it is the one skill that really sets applicants apart. And don't just "write". I mean, start a blog to write about your experiences, practice writing scripts, cover some news in your area, yes. But practice writing WELL. Go to https://owl.purdue.edu/ and do some writing lessons to practice proper grammar. Texting and emails have killed proper writing because it is not expected, but if you have good grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization (basic writing skills) AND can tell a good story, just like that you've set yourself apart.

What soft skills should all divisional merchandise managers possess?

Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Houston - Downtown

The need for soft skills are consistent through time. With our societal focus on social media, texting, emojis, etc. It appears to me companies are looking for the following:

- Active listening skills

- Willingness to be self-reflective and accept feedback

- Accept different perspectives. The collision of ideas creates knowledge

- Communicate to the listener (at their level). Flex communicators

- Cultural intelligence. Demographics changes will require better understanding of team member's, boss', customer's, etc. cultural context

Do you want to know more?

List of divisional merchandise manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a divisional merchandise manager resume and required skills for a divisional merchandise manager to have include:

Margin
DMM
Divisional Merchandise
Gross Margin
Product Development
Store Operations
Market Trends
Strategic Direction
Sales Growth
Financial Objectives
E-Commerce
Direct Reports
Product Knowledge
Inventory Management
Comp
Product Categories

GMM
IMU
Retail Sales
Business Strategies
Co-Op
Vendor Negotiations
Product Assortment
Product Line
Private Label Programs
Jewelry
Retail Store
Vendor Relations
Increase Sales
Product Mix
Coats
Brand Development

Product Selection
Receipt Flow
OTB
Gross Profit
Brand Positioning
Denim
Inventory Control
Merchandise Mix
ROI
Merchandise Selection
Activewear
YOY
Sportswear
Intimate Apparel

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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