How to hire a merchandising representative

How to hire a merchandising representative, step by step

Here's a step-by-step merchandising representative hiring guide:

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

What does a merchandising representative do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your merchandising representative 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 merchandising representative 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

   A merchandising representative's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, merchandising representatives from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of merchandising representative salaries for various roles:

   Type of Merchandising Representative	Description	Hourly rate
   Merchandising Representative	Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices.	$12-19
   Merchandiser, Sales	Merchandiser sales representatives are responsible for maintaining the flow of products and managing shelves in retail stores or similar establishments. They are also responsible for devising strategies and promotional plans to increase brand awareness and boost product sales... Show more	$11-19
   Sales Development Representative	A sales development representative qualifies leads at the sales funnel's initial stages. Sales development representatives need to conduct research for prospective clients and qualify the leads before handing them to the sales team... Show more	$16-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Little Supervision
   • Store Management
   • Plan-O-Grams
   • Customer Service
   • Product Knowledge
   • Working Independently
   • Sales Associates
   • Product Sales
   • Brand Awareness
   • Retail Locations
   • PET
   • Product Displays
   • Eagle
   • Work Ethic

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.
   • Update POS promotional materials such as cardboard temporary decorative displays.
   • Coordinate and administer jewelry entries for industry awards and advertisements in national fashion magazines.
   • Assist patients with Critical/Triage calls; document necessary symptoms for medical assistants to determine what medical intervention is necessary.
   • Place IRC on assign products for promotional sales.
   • Increase sales by installing displays and instant rebate coupons (IRC).

   More merchandising representative duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, merchandising representatives' average salary in mississippi is 50% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level merchandising representatives 38% less than senior-level merchandising representatives.
   • Certifications. A merchandising representative 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 merchandising representative's salary.

   Average merchandising representative salary

   $15.53hourly

   $32,303 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level merchandising representative salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 24, 2025

   Average merchandising representative salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$38,408	$18
   2	Massachusetts	$35,402	$17
   3	California	$34,738	$17
   4	Alaska	$34,611	$17
   5	Colorado	$34,609	$17
   6	Oregon	$34,184	$16
   7	Indiana	$33,327	$16
   8	Nevada	$33,065	$16
   9	New York	$32,595	$16
   10	Alabama	$31,213	$15
   11	Pennsylvania	$30,957	$15
   12	New Jersey	$30,319	$15
   13	Utah	$30,315	$15
   14	Arizona	$29,434	$14
   15	Idaho	$29,143	$14
   16	Missouri	$28,933	$14
   17	Oklahoma	$28,655	$14
   18	Texas	$28,626	$14
   19	Georgia	$28,039	$13
   20	North Carolina	$27,907	$13

   Average merchandising representative salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ECMD	$36,911	$17.75	9
   2	Hensley Beverage Co	$34,701	$16.68	8
   3	Bimbo Bakeries	$34,593	$16.63
   4	P.L. Marketing	$32,505	$15.63	17
   5	House of Blues	$32,119	$15.44
   6	Sysco	$31,943	$15.36	181
   7	Kelly Services	$31,658	$15.22	12
   8	Signature Retail Services	$31,451	$15.12	43
   9	Performance Food Group	$31,290	$15.04	258
   10	Advantage Solutions	$30,912	$14.86	818
   11	Live Nation Entertainment	$30,900	$14.86	10
   12	Apollo Retail	$30,418	$14.62	280
   13	McAneny Brothers	$29,486	$14.18
   14	CROSSMARK	$28,690	$13.79	3,894
   15	Hasbro	$28,361	$13.64	20

4. Writing a merchandising representative job description

   A job description for a merchandising representative role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a merchandising representative job description:

   Merchandising representative job description example

   The Job
   The Merchandising Representative (Merch Rep) plays an integral role in assisting the achievement of team goals while building a foundational knowledge of Ace merchandising values, programs, and best practices that prepares them for advancement with Ace in 12 - 24 months. The Merch Rep works closely with various internal and external stakeholders to support team responsibilities in order to maximize both sales and profits within Ace and retailers.
   
   The Merch Rep will assist with various integral tasks within the department, including but not limited to:
   Vendor and item selection NegotiationPromotional planning Implementation of programs and initiatives
   
   What you'll do:
   Participate in a comprehensive training program to learn and develop the knowledge and skills necessary to implement critical assignments within the merchandising area.
   Learn to execute and follow through on all tasks related to the implementation of key merchandising functions. Apply knowledge by assisting with key tasks such as item starts/maintenance, price maintenance, event planner, category reviews, promotional planning, show prep and other initiatives to assist merchants in growing retail sales within their respective categories.Study retail marketplace and assist category management partner in building and maintaining category plan-o-grams. Utilize territory rep counterparts to enhance knowledge of regional and local product needs and develop sales skills to implement category at retail, driving measurable results.Develop understanding of the function of inventory control and participate in impact merchant can affect on in effort to deliver product fill levels and Ace warehouse (RSC) inventory turnover to goal.Develop a working relationship with key cross-functional areas to gain acceptance, build credibility, and grow understanding and resource in other departments, the vendor community and Ace retailers.
   Become proficient in and apply the use of Ace technology applications such as ACENET intranet site, Ace Data Warehouse, SAP and Product Content Management system.Assist merchant and department merchandise manager with special projects and other administrative functions.
   
   What you will need:
   Experience and Technical Requirements:
   Bachelor's degree (business marketing or management a plus) or 2-4 years of related work experience (retail, sales or marketing). Understanding of business fundamentals.Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.Ability to think critically and strategically.Strong time management skills.Strong PC skills to include Excel, Word and Outlook. Technology adaptive to embrace and become skilled at Ace's technology platform. Self-confident, self-motivated with good presentation skills.Ability to work across teams and independently with some supervision.Ability to travel 10%
   
   Compensation Details:
   $51600 - $64600 per year
   
   Why should you join our team?
   We live our values - W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, and Teamwork). Gratitude. Humility. Love. You don't often see values like these in most corporate statements, but Ace is different. These things are important to us. They represent our commitment to the company, our employees, to Ace retailers and to the Ace brand.
   
   In addition to providing our employees a great culture, Ace also offers competitive benefits* that address life's necessities and perks, many of which expand and improve year after year, including:
   Incentive opportunities, based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 5 years resulted in incentives being paid out at an average of 126% of your target opportunity!) Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contributions, averaging 9.6% per year of eligible earnings over the past 5 years Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision and disability) & life insurance benefits for you and your dependents21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) Company Car, phone and fuel card are provided for field-based positions Your career at Ace is more than just a job. It's a chance to be part of something meaningful. We help locally-owned businesses thrive and make an impact in their communities - and we support our employees in doing the same by offering an annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer at an organization of your choice, opportunities to help Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace FoundationAce invests in every employee we hire, with a key focus on development and coaching. We offer on-site classes, facilitator-led courses, and a generous tuition assistance program, plus a performance management approach that goes beyond the typical annual review We know the work environment matters. That's why Ace holds frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales We bring them to you! Services such as mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash and detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!Employee discounts on Ace merchandise (including top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman, DeWalt and more), travel, fitness, computers and thousands more Birth/Adoption bonding paid time off Adoption cost reimbursement Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - access to free visits to therapists and lawyers, guidance on financial matters, elder and childcare, and assistance with tickets to entertainment events Identity theft protection
   * Benefits are provided in compliance with applicable policies.
   
   We want to hear from you!When most people think of career opportunities with Ace Hardware, they often think of the helpful cashiers and sales associates at their local store. However, have you also considered the people behind the scenes who select, promote, ship and process the invoices for more than 75,000 products? Maybe you haven't, but we'd like you to. Because together we help our customers take care of their homes. Come find out why a career with the Ace Hardware Corporation is one of America's best kept secrets.
   
   Equal Opportunity EmployerAce Hardware Corporation and its subsidiaries are committed to a policy of promoting equal employment opportunities. The company recognizes the importance of diversity and leveraging the skills and talents of all people to the mutual advantage of each individual and the organization. The company is committed to the prevention of employment discrimination related to race, religion, color, sex (including sexual harassment), gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability and military or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other action covered by federal or applicable state/local laws.
   
   Disclaimer
   The pay range for this position starts as listed in the job posting, but could be higher based on education and experience. Please note, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each opening. We take into consideration the minimum requirements outlined in the job description, such as an individual's education, training and experience, the position's work location, required travel (if any), and external market conditions when determining the final salary for potential new hires.
   
   Be aware that salary estimates published via alternate online job boards may not be a true representation of the actual pay range offered for this position. Please refer to the Ace position description for the accurate starting pay range information and feel free to discuss this with a Talent Acquisition professional if you are chosen to move forward with an interview.
   
   This written “Position Description” is not intended to cover all aspects of the position listed. It is meant to cover the basic/general essential job functions of a particular position. Ace Hardware Corporation reserves the right to change job duties, including essential job functions, according to business necessity.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find merchandising representatives for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any merchandising representatives they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level merchandising representatives with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your merchandising representative job on Zippia to find and recruit merchandising representative candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting merchandising representatives 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 merchandising representative

   Once you've selected the best merchandising representative candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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