What does a merchandise coordinator do?
A merchandise coordinator is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of supply inventory, creating purchase requests, and confirming the proper labeling of products. Merchandise coordinators assist with the creative arrangement of product displays, moving merchandise to the appropriate store section, informing the customers of the promotional products and discount offers, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, evaluating feature products' sales reports, and resolving customer complaints. A merchandise coordinator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, following store procedures and safety regulations at all times during the operational shift.
Merchandise coordinator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real merchandise coordinator resumes:
- Manage VIP area and guests.
- Manage all product marketing across retail, direct & social media channels for apparel and accessories divisions.
- Manage profitability and maximize ROI for allocate marketing budget.
- Manage e-commerce websites to maintain accurate information and maximize sales.
- Develop and execute marketing strategies within the affiliate, SEO, SEM, email, and social channels.
- Bag groceries and provide courtesy carry out service.
- Handle money, pack groceries, and gather carts from the parking lot.
- Maximize POS materials and in-store visual presentations by working closely with shop development and Bloomingdale's visual team.
- Present written and oral seasonal strategies and goals to the executive team along with a season recap PowerPoint presentation.
- Assist in training and facilitating the roll out of the new POS training for the entire store including all management.
- Maintain warehouse cleanliness and order.
- Create PowerPoint presentations for marketing strategies.
- Produce computer animate designs for custom jewelry.
- Purchase stones and other jewelry material from international vendors.
- Analyze performance and financial results of marketing initiatives and develop target ROI measures.
Merchandise coordinator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 32% of Merchandise Coordinators are proficient in Cleanliness, Sales Floor, and Merchandise Presentation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Analytical skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Merchandise Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cleanliness, 32%
Maintained store merchandise, organization, and cleanliness.
- Sales Floor, 31%
Performed customer service duties including authorizing merchandise returns, scheduling sales floor associated and cashier responsibilities.
- Merchandise Presentation, 12%
Communicated specific trend designs to the Merchandise Presentation Management/Selling Management, as well as the Visual Merchandisers.
- Jewelry, 3%
Purchased stones and other jewelry material from international vendors.
- POS, 2%
Assisted in training and facilitating the roll out of the new POS training for the entire store including all management.
- Store Management, 2%
Build and cultivate strong relationships with store management and staff to drive business initiatives and communicate regularly regarding store information.
"cleanliness," "sales floor," and "merchandise presentation" are among the most common skills that merchandise coordinators use at work. You can find even more merchandise coordinator responsibilities below, including:
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for a merchandise coordinator to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what merchandise coordinators do because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." Additionally, a merchandise coordinator resume shows how merchandise coordinators use creativity: "worked with different departments on retail ad content, member incentives, loss prevention and quarterly inventory"
Analytical skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling merchandise coordinator duties is analytical skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." According to a merchandise coordinator resume, here's how merchandise coordinators can utilize analytical skills in their job responsibilities: "develop and conduct comprehensive product line reviews based on financial analysis and business objectives to grow market share and customer base. "
Communication skills. For certain merchandise coordinator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a merchandise coordinator rely on this skill, as "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what merchandise coordinators do: "facilitated smooth store operations through logistics coordination, staff scheduling, and internal communication. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for merchandise coordinator responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of merchandise coordinators all the time, as "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." An excerpt from a real merchandise coordinator resume shows how this skill is central to what a merchandise coordinator does: "provide strong customer service, merchandising, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. "
Organizational skills. While "organizational skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to merchandise coordinator responsibilities. Much of what a merchandise coordinator does relies on this skill, seeing as "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of merchandise coordinators: "maintained cleanliness and organizational standards throughout the store in accordance with company policy and procedures. "
The three companies that hire the most merchandise coordinators are:
- The TJX Companies275 merchandise coordinators jobs
- Sysco23 merchandise coordinators jobs
- Haggar Clothing Co.22 merchandise coordinators jobs
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Compare different merchandise coordinators
Merchandise coordinator vs. Sales leader
A Sales Leader's responsibility is more than just leading. Most of the tasks involve monitoring the progress of sales, creating strategies to attain financial gains, managing the workforce, and as well as suggesting and enforcing particular options that would be beneficial for the sales and the company. All while making sure that all actions adhere to the policies and standards of the company. Above all, a Sale's Leader must have the passion and determination to drive a team towards the company's goal.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, merchandise coordinator responsibilities require skills like "merchandise presentation," "strong work ethic," "environmental design," and "jewelry." Meanwhile a typical sales leader has skills in areas such as "product knowledge," "customer satisfaction," "cash handling," and "payroll." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, sales leaders reach similar levels of education than merchandise coordinators. Sales leaders are 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise coordinator vs. Team leader
Team leaders are responsible for managing a team for a specific project or work component. They primarily guide the team members and ensure that they are still working towards the set goals. Team leaders create strategies to reach goals, cascade the goals and strategies to team members, assign tasks, conduct periodic check-ups on the roadmap towards the goals, foster an engaging work environment, motivate and coach team members, monitor team performance, evaluate the strategies and come up with mitigating plans as needed. They are also responsible for reporting the team's progress to higher management.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that merchandise coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "cleanliness," "work ethic," "merchandise presentation," and "strong work ethic." But a team leader might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "ladders," "patients," "pet," and "safety procedures."
Team leaders earn higher levels of education than merchandise coordinators in general. They're 5.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise coordinator vs. Key holder
A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives. A keyholder must have excellent customer service and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially during high customer volume.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, merchandise coordinators are more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "merchandise presentation," "strong work ethic," and "environmental design." But a key holder is more likely to have skills like "product knowledge," "retail sales," "pet," and "sales transactions."
Key holders earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $30,477. Comparatively, merchandise coordinators have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $40,626.Most key holders achieve a similar degree level compared to merchandise coordinators. For example, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise coordinator vs. Department manager
Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources. They set department goals and the steps the team needs to take to ensure that the goals are met. Department managers are also in charge of training team members so that these team members will be able to work together harmoniously. They should also be able to keep the team's goal in sight and adjust their strategy as needed.
Types of merchandise coordinator
Updated January 8, 2025
