How To Become A General Merchandiser: What It Is and Career Path

What is a general merchandiser and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A general merchandiser selects and purchases products for retail stores. They analyze market trends, consumer demand, and sales data to determine the best products to stock. General merchandisers work with suppliers and wholesalers to negotiate prices and deliveries. They also collaborate with marketing teams to create campaigns and promotions. Other duties include maintaining inventory, managing displays, and monitoring sales. Overall, they aim to maximize profits by securing the right products at the right time.

ScoreGeneral MerchandiserUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $30,372

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.98%

Asian 6.36%

Black or African American 7.76%

Hispanic or Latino 20.96%

Unknown 5.56%

White 58.37%

Gender

female 46.13%

male 53.87%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a general merchandiser?

Pros

Potential for career advancement
Exposure to various industries and trends
Possibility of flexible scheduling
Chance to work independently or as part of a team
Opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Cons

Physically demanding work, including lifting and moving heavy items
High pressure environment with tight deadlines and sales goals
Long hours, including weekends and holidays
Constant interruptions and distractions due to customer interactions
May require travel or relocation for certain assignments or projects

Key steps to become a general merchandiser

Explore general merchandiser education requirements

Most common general merchandiser degrees

High School Diploma

39.4 %

Bachelor's

25.5 %

Associate

18.9 %

Start to develop specific general merchandiser skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Floor	60.15%
Inventory Management	21.04%
Back Room	6.41%
Stock Merchandise	4.60%
Product Knowledge	2.57%

Complete relevant general merchandiser training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general merchandisers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a general merchandiser based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general merchandiser resumes.

Research general merchandiser duties and responsibilities

Manage jewelry stock and inventory balances accurately.
Control inventory and compute pricing and enter inventory in the POS system.
Maintain a sterile and clean work environment and used daily math conversions.
Pack and fulfill web orders, setup pick-ups for delivery with FedEx.

Prepare your general merchandiser resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general merchandiser resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a general merchandiser resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable general merchandiser resume templates

Build a professional general merchandiser resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your general merchandiser resume.