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Retail merchandiser vs retail representative

The differences between retail merchandisers and retail representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retail representative has an average salary of $31,790, which is higher than the $28,678 average annual salary of a retail merchandiser.

The top three skills for a retail merchandiser include customer service, store management and POS. The most important skills for a retail representative are flexibility, store management, and certification programs.

Retail merchandiser vs retail representative overview

Retail MerchandiserRetail Representative
Yearly salary$28,678$31,790
Hourly rate$13.79$15.28
Growth rate--
Number of jobs477,794402,132
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4141
Years of experience--

What does a retail merchandiser do?

A retail merchandiser is responsible for determining the accuracy of sales and analyzing market trends to ensure that the business can follow stock movements and adjust plan budgets as needed. Retail merchandisers' duties also include planning strategies that would provide satisfaction for the customers while meeting the company's objectives, and coordinating with the suppliers and distributors for timely deliveries and price negotiations. Retail merchandisers also assist customers, analyze sales performance, and monitor inventories regularly.

What does a retail representative do?

A retail representative is in charge of assisting customers with their shopping needs in retail stores, ensuring customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting customers and identifying their needs, answering inquiries, locating products, offering promotions and recommendations, and conducting demonstrations when possible. There are also instances where they must process payments or refunds. Furthermore, as a retail representative, it is essential to arrange products on shelves to make it look attractive to customers, all while maintaining the cleanliness of the sales floor.

Retail merchandiser vs retail representative salary

Retail merchandisers and retail representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Retail MerchandiserRetail Representative
Average salary$28,678$31,790
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $36,000Between $26,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WA-
Highest paying stateWashington-
Best paying companyWayfair-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between retail merchandiser and retail representative education

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

Retail MerchandiserRetail Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Retail merchandiser vs retail representative demographics

Here are the differences between retail merchandisers' and retail representatives' demographics:

Retail MerchandiserRetail Representative
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 34.1% Female, 65.9%Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between retail merchandiser and retail representative duties and responsibilities

Retail merchandiser example responsibilities.

  • Manage cleanliness and presentation of stock room and production floor.
  • Manage entire pet food recycling facility converting 9,000 tons per year from pet food to swine and poultry feed.
  • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
  • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.
  • Operate a pallet jack, scorpions, boats, john deers, and skates.
  • Assemble and install product displays, ex: hanging rug displays per POG.
  • Show more

Retail representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.
  • Execute the proper POS in accounts, particularly with products on sale.
  • Befriend category managers and backroom personnel to positively impact on OSA, POS placement, and other sell-in tactics.
  • Educate consumers about products and services and troubleshoot any existing customer concerns relate to service or equipment.
  • Collaborate with board members to prepare PowerPoint presentations and other written reports and present concepts to management.

Retail merchandiser vs retail representative skills

Common retail merchandiser skills
  • Customer Service, 30%
  • Store Management, 16%
  • POS, 8%
  • Excellent Organizational, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Retail Store, 6%
Common retail representative skills
  • Flexibility, 36%
  • Store Management, 36%
  • Certification Programs, 11%
  • PET, 7%
  • Customer Service, 2%
  • Product Knowledge, 1%