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Merchandiser vs merchant

The differences between merchandisers and merchants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a merchant has an average salary of $74,999, which is higher than the $31,051 average annual salary of a merchandiser.

The top three skills for a merchandiser include customer service, PET and pallets. The most important skills for a merchant are product development, gross margin, and market trends.

Merchandiser vs merchant overview

MerchandiserMerchant
Yearly salary$31,051$74,999
Hourly rate$14.93$36.06
Growth rate1%-
Number of jobs109,44715,395
Job satisfaction4.4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age3841
Years of experience--

What does a merchandiser do?

Merchandisers are employees working for a retail company. Merchandisers are mainly responsible for the store's products. They curate products that are in line with the store's branding. Merchandisers create purchase requisitions and, upon receipt of the products, create displays that would attract the customers. They also ensure that the inventory of the store is well-stocked. Merchandisers should be up to date with current market trends. They should also be familiar with what customers need and want. It is important for merchandisers to know their company's branding by heart. Merchandisers should be able to create good relationships with vendors as well so that their store may be chosen for special promotions.

What does a merchant do?

A merchant is responsible for selling goods and services for an organization to generate revenues by reaching out to existing and potential customers and discuss the products' features. Merchants must have extensive knowledge of the goods offered by the company to be able to respond to customers' inquiries and concerns accurately. They also maintain the adequacy of inventory for store orders, create purchase requests, and analyze sales performance. A merchant coordinates with the sales and marketing team to develop efficient promotional strategies and increase brand awareness on public platforms.

Merchandiser vs merchant salary

Merchandisers and merchants have different pay scales, as shown below.

MerchandiserMerchant
Average salary$31,051$74,999
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $47,000 And $119,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyMicrosoftLevi Strauss & Co.
Best paying industryEducationFinance

Differences between merchandiser and merchant education

There are a few differences between a merchandiser and a merchant in terms of educational background:

MerchandiserMerchant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Merchandiser vs merchant demographics

Here are the differences between merchandisers' and merchants' demographics:

MerchandiserMerchant
Average age3841
Gender ratioMale, 58.0% Female, 42.0%Male, 42.1% Female, 57.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between merchandiser and merchant duties and responsibilities

Merchandiser example responsibilities.

  • Consult customers on Scotts products and educate them concerning the advantage and benefits over competitive products.
  • Manage jewelry stock and inventory balances accurately.
  • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
  • Google Adwords, SEO, etc.
  • Carry items up and down ladders.
  • Climb and work on ladders frequently.
  • Show more

Merchant example responsibilities.

  • Partner with production on achieving IMU targets and in store deliveries.
  • Manage merchandise deliverable deadlines: photography, copy, and inventory.
  • Manage the OTB to ensure seasonal sales, inventory levels, and margin objectives are met.
  • Lead online visual merchandising decisions base on in-depth understanding of weekly KPI s and high investment products.
  • Set and achieve monthly goals in new accounts and investment referrals; encourage cross-sells of services as per management
  • Manage social media (Facebook) by posting new content, questions, pictures, new arrivals, graphics, etc.
  • Show more

Merchandiser vs merchant skills

Common merchandiser skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • PET, 8%
  • Pallets, 5%
  • Back Room, 5%
  • POS, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 4%
Common merchant skills
  • Product Development, 8%
  • Gross Margin, 7%
  • Market Trends, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Strong Analytical, 6%
  • Math, 6%

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