What does a merchandise lead do?
A merchandise lead is responsible for strategizing merchandise methods to reach sales performance targets. Merchandise leads assist the consumers in choosing the best products according to their needs and budget limitations. They evaluate the current market trends to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. A merchandise lead must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in helping with marketing and promotional campaigns to attract consumers' interests and meet public demands.
Merchandise lead responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real merchandise lead resumes:
- 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.
Merchandise lead skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Merchandise Leads are proficient in Sales Floor, Customer Service, and Customer Satisfaction. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Management skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Merchandise Leads that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Sales Floor, 17%
Supervised receiving, processing and placement of product on sales floor and accurately prepared shipment reports and inventory audit documentation.
- Customer Service, 8%
Recognized by executive management for excellence in territory management, sales, customer service delivery, merchandising and account management.
- Customer Satisfaction, 7%
Assisted in execution of customer-focused strategies, policies and programs as measured by Customer Satisfaction Survey data and verbatim comments.
- Store Management, 7%
Supervised crew and delegated responsibility in order to obtain complete satisfaction of store management.
- POS, 6%
Operated Point of Sale (POS) system to effectively conduct sales, returns, and random audits processes.
- Product Knowledge, 6%
Resolved specific customer questions and recommended products based on extensive product knowledge.
Most merchandise leads use their skills in "sales floor," "customer service," and "customer satisfaction" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential merchandise lead responsibilities here:
Leadership skills. The most essential soft skill for a merchandise lead to carry out their responsibilities is leadership skills. This skill is important for the role because "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Additionally, a merchandise lead resume shows how their duties depend on leadership skills: "partner with leadership to make product placement adjustment based on selling, inventory ownership and merchandising. "
Problem-solving skills. merchandise leads are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to merchandise lead responsibilities, because "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." A merchandise lead resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "created positive customer experiences by finding resolutions to customer complaints. "
Time-management skills. For certain merchandise lead responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "time-management skills." The day-to-day duties of a merchandise lead rely on this skill, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what merchandise leads do: "work closely with price accuracy, presentation, and sales floor teams to complete sets on time. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for merchandise lead responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of merchandise leads all the time, as "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." An excerpt from a real merchandise lead resume shows how this skill is central to what a merchandise lead does: "clear communication with store management. "
The three companies that hire the most merchandise leads are:
- Petco Holdings, Inc.166 merchandise leads jobs
- Walmart119 merchandise leads jobs
- Premium Retail Services114 merchandise leads jobs
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Compare different merchandise leads
Merchandise lead 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.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a merchandise lead are more likely to require skills like "customer satisfaction," "apparel," "product displays," and "chrome." On the other hand, a job as a key holder requires skills like "bank deposits," "retail sales," "cleanliness," and "pet." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Key holders tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $30,477. In contrast, merchandise leads make the biggest average salary, $36,520, in the retail industry.key holders tend to reach similar levels of education than merchandise leads. In fact, key holders are 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise lead 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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real merchandise lead resumes. While merchandise lead responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer satisfaction," "apparel," "product displays," and "ladders," department managers use skills like "cleanliness," "payroll," "performance reviews," and "hr."
Department managers earn a higher average salary than merchandise leads. But department managers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $71,410. Additionally, merchandise leads earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $36,520 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Department managers tend to reach similar levels of education than merchandise leads. In fact, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise lead vs. Assistant manager
An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, merchandise leads are more likely to have skills like "store management," "apparel," "product displays," and "ladders." But a assistant manager is more likely to have skills like "paperwork," "cleanliness," "math," and "payroll."
Assistant managers earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $44,622. Merchandise leads earn the highest pay from the retail industry, with an average salary of $36,520.When it comes to education, assistant managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to merchandise leads. In fact, they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Merchandise lead vs. Department supervisor
A department supervisor's role is to oversee and ensure a business operation's efficiency in a particular area. Acting as a leader, it is their responsibility to develop strategies on meeting goals within a timeline and ensure that the workforce is functioning effectively in a harmonious environment. Furthermore, a department supervisor is in charge of setting goals such as budget and results, evaluating employees' performances and activities, training new members of the workforce, handling and resolving issues, and enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Types of merchandise lead
Updated January 8, 2025
