How to hire a merchandise lead

How to hire a merchandise lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step merchandise lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a merchandise lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new merchandise lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a merchandise lead do?

Post a merchandise lead job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your merchandise lead job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a merchandise lead for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a merchandise lead to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a merchandise lead that fits the bill.

   This list presents merchandise lead salaries for various positions.

   Type of Merchandise Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Merchandise Lead		$12-21
   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... Show more	$12-18
   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... Show more	$18-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Store Management
   • POS
   • Product Knowledge
   • Inventory Control
   • Apparel
   • Product Displays
   • Sales Reports
   • Ladders
   • Chrome
   • Loss Prevention
   • Store Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage merchandising for lumber, building materials, paint, hardware, plumbing, electrical, and the garden department.
   • Facilitate price checks and pitch in to bag groceries as needed.
   • Coordinate all POS arrangements and merchandise as strategically design in floor plans.
   • Assist in all administrative responsibilities including opening and closing store, organization standards, scheduling and payroll processing.
   • Assist in CAO roll-out to other stores in district.
   • Coordinate production of sketch books for presentation of final dress line to sales force and top management of company.

   More merchandise lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your merchandise lead job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A merchandise lead can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, merchandise leads' average salary in new mexico is 50% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level merchandise leads 40% less than senior-level merchandise leads.
   • Certifications. A merchandise lead with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a merchandise lead's salary.

   Average merchandise lead salary

   $35,572yearly

   $17.10 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level merchandise lead salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average merchandise lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Wisconsin	$42,705	$21
   2	New York	$42,308	$20
   3	Maryland	$41,012	$20
   4	California	$40,860	$20
   5	Colorado	$39,984	$19
   6	Pennsylvania	$39,335	$19
   7	Minnesota	$39,196	$19
   8	Washington	$37,895	$18
   9	Illinois	$37,451	$18
   10	Virginia	$37,149	$18
   11	Iowa	$36,167	$17
   12	Indiana	$35,162	$17
   13	Tennessee	$34,635	$17
   14	North Carolina	$34,601	$17
   15	Texas	$33,342	$16
   16	Arizona	$31,206	$15
   17	Florida	$30,718	$15
   18	Ohio	$29,717	$14
   19	Georgia	$29,049	$14
   20	New Mexico	$28,421	$14

   Average merchandise lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PepsiCo	$43,372	$20.85	5
   2	Meta	$42,887	$20.62	5
   3	Reyes Holdings	$42,353	$20.36	2
   4	Harley-Davidson	$42,341	$20.36	2
   5	Keurig Dr Pepper	$41,146	$19.78	295
   6	Gap Inc.	$40,957	$19.69
   7	VF	$40,881	$19.65	94
   8	Target	$40,242	$19.35
   9	Rite Aid	$39,923	$19.19
   10	Mattel	$38,170	$18.35	7
   11	Belk	$37,650	$18.10	7
   12	Footprint	$37,470	$18.01
   13	The Retail Odyssey Company	$37,470	$18.01	2
   14	Under Armour	$37,372	$17.97	22
   15	Williams Sonoma	$37,271	$17.92	150
   16	Advantage Solutions	$37,175	$17.87	2
   17	Green Mountain Coffee Roasters	$37,044	$17.81
   18	Vans	$36,826	$17.70	23
   19	ActionLink	$36,758	$17.67
   20	RH	$36,717	$17.65	21

4. Writing a merchandise lead job description

   A merchandise lead job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a merchandise lead job description:

   Merchandise lead job description example

   Merchandising Territory Lead / Part-time
   Hourly Wage: $19.00 /hr
   
   Flexible, Part time, Start now!
   Additional info: Hourly, Variable hours, Non-exempt
   Compensation and shifts: Door to door mileage reimbursement Flexible schedule Competitive pay
   As a lead… You will report directly to a remote district manager. Your on the job duties will include plan-o-gram updates, completing audits, or security tagging. You will be servicing multiple locations and customers in your predetermined territory.
   Who are we? footprint Solutions is a nationally recognized company and industry leader. For over 20 years we have partnered with well-known retailers to provide them with total onsite management capabilities . We perform both merchandising and installation services within our customer's retail space and are well versed in the stores we serve. Why merchandise for Footprint? Leadership and growth opportunities available to our team members. Vast opportunities within large metropolitan markets to the smallest towns Independent or team based work available Competitive hourly pay and expense reimbursement.
   Qualifications: Must be 18 years or older Merchandising experience preferred Strong communication skills required Time management skills Self-motivated ; able to work independently Smart phone technology knowledge highly preferred
   Physical requirements: Able to meet the physical demands of the job. Reaching, bending, crouching, kneeling, walking Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
   
   Footprint is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Step into a job that is right for you with Footprint Solutions.
   PM21
   
   PI193901648

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find merchandise leads for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find merchandise lead candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting merchandise leads requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new merchandise lead

   Once you've decided on a perfect merchandise lead candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new merchandise lead. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a merchandise lead?