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What does a merchandising assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A merchandising assistant is responsible for contributing new goods and services for the business, identifying business opportunities based on the market demands to drive revenues and increase profitability. Merchandising assistants also monitor stock inventories, negotiating with suppliers and other third-party vendors for deliveries, and strategizing on how to minimize costs without compromising the quality. They also help with arranging product displays, developing marketing campaigns, and planning promotional offers to attract customers for purchase. A merchandising assistant must have excellent communication skills, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, and directing them to the appropriate section for their needs.

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Merchandising assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real merchandising assistant resumes:

  • Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
  • Update photo packets in PowerPoint deck.
  • Engage in coaching and development for MEA team members.
  • Process transactions through the POS system, shipping, process adjustments, ticketing of merchandise and return of damage merchandise.
  • Work with warehouse to assist in resolving problem orders and invoicing as well as troubleshoot issues in the POS system.
  • Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
  • Collaborate with the creative teams to make sure copy along with the hero and super hero editorials are uploaded.
  • Coordinate with production, editorial, sales, operations, design, YesMail, and upper management for seamless execution.
  • Implement logistics techniques to improve quality of inventory.
  • Train in scheduling/payroll logistics base on sales goals being successful/unsuccessful.

Merchandising assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 32% of Merchandising Assistants are proficient in Sales Floor, Customer Service, and Customer Issues. They’re also known for soft skills such as Physical stamina, Self-confidence, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Merchandising Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Sales Floor, 32%

    Assist customers with purchasing needs through the register, out on the sales floor, in the fitting room, etc.

  • Customer Service, 29%

    Ordered merchandise according to customer demands, executed signing procedures for lingerie department, replenished, and provided exceptional customer service.

  • Customer Issues, 15%

    Dedicated to resolving customer issues quickly.

  • Purchase Orders, 5%

    Finalized purchase orders for seasonal merchandise and managed relationship with outside vendors and fellow admin teams locally and abroad.

  • Data Entry, 3%

    Performed data entry including plugging in item stock keeping units on international website.

  • Vendor Relations, 2%

    Set up new vendor relationships in internal proprietary system; worked with key manufacturers representatives to define agreement terms.

"sales floor," "customer service," and "customer issues" are among the most common skills that merchandising assistants use at work. You can find even more merchandising assistant responsibilities below, including:

Physical stamina. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a merchandising assistant to have is physical stamina. Their role and responsibilities require that "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are often on their feet for a long time and may carry heavy sample products." Merchandising assistants often use physical stamina in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "create and implement physical/digital product knowledge resources for all forty retail locations in the usa and canada. "

Self-confidence. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling merchandising assistant duties is self-confidence. The role rewards competence in this skill because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations." According to a merchandising assistant resume, here's how merchandising assistants can utilize self-confidence in their job responsibilities: "trained on pos to handle high dollar transactions and confidential information in a high volume location. "

Customer-service skills. merchandising assistants are also known for customer-service skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to merchandising assistant responsibilities, because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale." A merchandising assistant resume example shows how customer-service skills is used in the workplace: "support customer service and returns and exchange departments by finding jewelry for unhappy/difficult customers. "

Interpersonal skills. A big part of what merchandising assistants do relies on "interpersonal skills." You can see how essential it is to merchandising assistant responsibilities because "wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical merchandising assistant tasks: "core focus of customer service and experience requiring excellent interpersonal skills and product knowledge. "

All merchandising assistant skills

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Compare different merchandising assistants

Merchandising assistant 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.

If we compare the average merchandising assistant annual salary with that of a team leader, we find that team leaders typically earn a $34,138 higher salary than merchandising assistants make annually.Even though merchandising assistants and team leaders are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require sales floor, customer service, and customer issues in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a merchandising assistant are more likely to require skills like "purchase orders," "data entry," "vendor relations," and "inventory management." On the other hand, a job as a team leader requires skills like "ladders," "patients," "pet," and "safety procedures." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

The education levels that team leaders earn slightly differ from merchandising assistants. In particular, team leaders are 5.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a merchandising assistant. Additionally, they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Merchandising assistant 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.

On average, key holders earn a $2,900 lower salary than merchandising assistants a year.A few skills overlap for merchandising assistants and key holders. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "sales floor," "customer service," and "customer issues. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that merchandising assistant responsibilities requires skills like "purchase orders," "data entry," "vendor relations," and "powerpoint." But a key holder might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "bank deposits," "loss prevention," "store sales," and "retail sales."

On average, key holders earn a lower salary than merchandising assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, key holders earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $30,477. Whereas merchandising assistants have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $34,888.In general, key holders achieve similar levels of education than merchandising assistants. They're 1.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Merchandising assistant 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.

On average, department managers earn higher salaries than merchandising assistants, with a $32,481 difference per year.By looking over several merchandising assistants and department managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "sales floor," "customer service," and "customer issues." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, merchandising assistants are more likely to have skills like "purchase orders," "data entry," "vendor relations," and "powerpoint." But a department manager is more likely to have skills like "sales promotions," "cleanliness," "payroll," and "performance reviews."

Department managers earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $71,410. Comparatively, merchandising assistants have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $34,888.Most department managers achieve a similar degree level compared to merchandising assistants. For example, they're 1.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Merchandising assistant vs. Shift supervisor

Shift supervisors are responsible for the employees assigned to the shift that they are handling. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees who were expected to report to work at the specific shift came in. They also ensure that the employees are doing their jobs while at work. Shift supervisors are expected to ensure that employees are really working during working hours and properly delegate work. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees are productive and efficient in their jobs. They are expected to provide coaching and guidance so that the employees will be able to reach the goals assigned to the work team.

Shift supervisors typically earn lower pay than merchandising assistants. On average, shift supervisors earn a $538 lower salary per year.According to resumes from merchandising assistants and shift supervisors, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "sales floor," "customer service," and "customer issues. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between merchandising assistants and shift supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a merchandising assistant might have more use for skills like "purchase orders," "data entry," "vendor relations," and "powerpoint." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of shift supervisors require skills like "cash handling," "store operations," "loss prevention," and "food products. "

In general, shift supervisors earn the most working in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $39,059. The highest-paying industry for a merchandising assistant is the manufacturing industry.In general, shift supervisors hold similar degree levels compared to merchandising assistants. Shift supervisors are 0.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of merchandising assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.