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General merchandiser vs key holder/manager

The differences between general merchandisers and key holder/managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a key holder/manager has an average salary of $35,371, which is higher than the $30,372 average annual salary of a general merchandiser.

The top three skills for a general merchandiser include sales floor, inventory management and back room. The most important skills for a key holder/manager are customer service, cash handling, and sales floor.

General merchandiser vs key holder/manager overview

General MerchandiserKey Holder/Manager
Yearly salary$30,372$35,371
Hourly rate$14.60$17.01
Growth rate1%-
Number of jobs213,261177,394
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age3843
Years of experience-6

What does a general merchandiser do?

A General Merchandiser creates displays and promotes the products and services in retail stores. Among their primary duties and responsibilities include shelf placement strategies and in-store displays for maximum product exposure to potential customers. They train staff to carry out their tasks in the merchandise store effectively. As the brain of almost every decision in retail chains, merchandisers ensure every customer the best experience they can get while shopping.

What does a key holder/manager do?

A key holder/manager is primarily in charge of opening and closing stores, ensuring that it is secure and in good condition. Moreover, they also are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of surroundings, managing the surveillance cameras and alarm systems, responding to calls and correspondence, and assisting cashiers or staff when there's an overwhelming amount of customers. A key holder/manager may also participate in helping clients, putting the priority on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, it is essential to implement all policies and regulations to ensure that the store is running smoothly.

General merchandiser vs key holder/manager salary

General merchandisers and key holder/managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

General MerchandiserKey Holder/Manager
Average salary$30,372$35,371
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $45,000Between $21,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between general merchandiser and key holder/manager education

There are a few differences between a general merchandiser and a key holder/manager in terms of educational background:

General MerchandiserKey Holder/Manager
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

General merchandiser vs key holder/manager demographics

Here are the differences between general merchandisers' and key holder/managers' demographics:

General MerchandiserKey Holder/Manager
Average age3843
Gender ratioMale, 53.9% Female, 46.1%Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between general merchandiser and key holder/manager duties and responsibilities

General merchandiser example 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.
  • Monitor and update price tags using POS program to make tags as needed for sales demands.
  • Send out transfers with packing lists, labels using Fedex and getting ready to have it send out.
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Key holder/manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all aspects of day-to-day business operations including budget, payroll, scheduling, problem solving, inventory, company database.
  • Register management of POS system and merchandise returns
  • Operate various POS functions including cash drops, inventory, train new employees, beginning and closing of day, etc.
  • Control expenses including staff schedules and payroll
  • Provide leadership, coaching, and improvement initiative to improve the operational efficiency.
  • Communicate and coordinate with other on-campus organizations and develop leadership and schedule building skills.
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General merchandiser vs key holder/manager skills

Common general merchandiser skills
  • Sales Floor, 60%
  • Inventory Management, 21%
  • Back Room, 6%
  • Stock Merchandise, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 3%
  • Working Independently, 1%
Common key holder/manager skills
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • Cash Handling, 12%
  • Sales Floor, 10%
  • Retail Store, 8%
  • Paperwork, 8%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%

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