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.
Retail merchandiser responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real retail merchandiser resumes:
- 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.
- Operate pallet jack, hand trucks, ladders and hand tools as needed.
- Interact with store management on vary work tasks demonstrating flexibility and attention to detail.
- Deliver customer service excellence through communication, rapport building, and attentiveness to customer needs.
- Maintain cleanliness of all work areas.
- Work at upselling photo products to customers.
- Provide rep support for companies do business inside Wal-Mart.
- Represent national pet food company, drugstores, department stores.
- Transport products using boats, hand tucks and pallet jacks.
- Maintain flexibility to participate in team schedule tasks and clients work-withs.
Retail merchandiser skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Retail Merchandisers are proficient in Customer Service, Store Management, and POS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Selling skills, Interpersonal skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Retail Merchandisers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 30%
Manage customer service activities and associate competence in these areas to optimized and sustain sales performance, profitability and customer satisfaction.
- Store Management, 16%
Developed a weekly schedule in collaboration with store management to achieve corporate business objectives in the most effective and timely manor.
- POS, 8%
Developed merchandising POS hierarchy, fully integrated previous licensee s system into a new reporting model developed for Playboy retail store.
- Excellent Organizational, 7%
possess excellent organizational skills, strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with business partners.
- Work Ethic, 6%
Promoted to Territory Sales Manager as a result of work ethic and success of working with customers.
- Retail Store, 6%
Represent various Manufacturers to retail stores- Merchandise products how the manufacturer has requested i.e.
Common skills that a retail merchandiser uses to do their job include "customer service," "store management," and "pos." You can find details on the most important retail merchandiser responsibilities below.
Selling skills. The most essential soft skill for a retail merchandiser to carry out their responsibilities is selling skills. This skill is important for the role because "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." Additionally, a retail merchandiser resume shows how their duties depend on selling skills: "worked closely with account representatives of various companies and store management & established sales relationships between them. "
Interpersonal skills. Many retail merchandiser duties rely on interpersonal skills. "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people.," so a retail merchandiser will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways retail merchandiser responsibilities rely on interpersonal skills: "received and resolved customer complaints through immediate attention, interpersonal communication, and coordination with 20 staff members ensuring customer satisfaction. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for retail merchandisers to perform their duties. For an example of how retail merchandiser responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a retail merchandiser: "worked with department managers and associates regarding product knowledge and statistics".
Customer-service skills. A big part of what retail merchandisers do relies on "customer-service skills." You can see how essential it is to retail merchandiser responsibilities because "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical retail merchandiser tasks: "provided exceptional customer service and professional working relationship with store management and the merchandising partners. "
The three companies that hire the most retail merchandisers are:
- Driveline Retail Merchandising15,896 retail merchandisers jobs
- SPAR Group3,649 retail merchandisers jobs
- Anderson Merchandisers2,523 retail merchandisers jobs
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Retail merchandiser vs. Associate
Associates are typically entry-level positions for employees who are taking on their first job or organizational role. They are assigned to teams or departments that are related to their skills or educational background. They usually start with smaller tasks that may not seem as impactful but are still essential to the department. Associates are trained by more tenured team members on the ins and outs of the department and the organization. As they grow with the organization, they are given more responsibilities that directly impact the results of the department's initiatives as they work towards their goals.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, retail merchandiser responsibilities require skills like "store management," "excellent organizational," "work ethic," and "strong work ethic." Meanwhile a typical associate has skills in areas such as "patients," "cleanliness," "windows," and "hr." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, associates reach similar levels of education than retail merchandisers. Associates are 3.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 6.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Retail merchandiser vs. Jewelry sales associate
A jewelry sales associate is in charge of assisting clients when purchasing jewelry, ensuring customer satisfaction. They primarily greet potential clients, identify their needs and preferences, answer inquiries, and offer advice when needed. A jewelry sales associate may also help clients when trying on the products, close sales, and even arrange payment plans. Furthermore, as a jewelry sales associate, it essential to keep the sales floor presentable and secure, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real retail merchandiser resumes. While retail merchandiser responsibilities can utilize skills like "store management," "excellent organizational," "work ethic," and "strong work ethic," jewelry sales associates use skills like "sales associates," "customer satisfaction," "retail sales," and "sales transactions."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Jewelry sales associates tend to reach similar levels of education than retail merchandisers. In fact, they're 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 6.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Retail merchandiser vs. Sales floor associate
Salesfloor associates often work with retail establishments. They are either referred to as retail sales associates or retail associates. These associates greet customers as they arrive, assess their needs, and help them find the right products and services. Other responsibilities include operating cash registers, introducing customers to promotions and opportunities, and cross-selling products to increase sales. Also, they assist customers in getting their complaints resolved as well as with their returns and refunds. Job seekers must have excellent customer service skills, relevant retail experience, and a strong knowledge of selling techniques.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from retail merchandiser resumes include skills like "store management," "excellent organizational," "work ethic," and "strong work ethic," whereas a sales floor associate is more likely to list skills in "home health," "sales transactions," "back room," and "front end. "
When it comes to education, sales floor associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to retail merchandisers. In fact, they're 1.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Retail merchandiser vs. Expert
An expert has extensive knowledge on a subject gained from a significant amount of experience. Although the tasks will vary on the line of work or organization, an expert's role will often revolve around sharing expertise through discussion, evaluation, and influencing. There's also an opportunity for teaching, training, selling, and even promoting. Being an expert requires a great deal of communication and coordination; the duties will always involve engaging with other people and building rapport.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between retail merchandisers and experts, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a retail merchandiser might have more use for skills like "store management," "excellent organizational," "work ethic," and "strong work ethic." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of experts require skills like "customer loyalty," "cleanliness," "exceptional guest," and "sales associates. "
The average resume of experts showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to retail merchandisers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 7.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 2.3%.Types of retail merchandiser
Updated January 8, 2025











