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The differences between store managers and buyer and merchandise planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a store manager and buyer and a merchandise planner. Additionally, a merchandise planner has an average salary of $69,460, which is higher than the $68,964 average annual salary of a store manager and buyer.
The top three skills for a store manager and buyer include customer service, product knowledge and payroll. The most important skills for a merchandise planner are gross margin, strong analytical, and math.
| Store Manager And Buyer | Merchandise Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $68,964 | $69,460 |
| Hourly rate | $33.16 | $33.39 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 154,677 | 32,301 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A store manager is responsible for selecting and purchasing goods. They provide information on products, including prices and promotions. They are responsible for providing recommendations to clients, handling customer requires, and solving any issues. They also monitor sales.
A merchandise planner is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of stock inventories and requesting purchase orders by researching current market trends to meet customer demands. Merchandise planners assist with marketing campaigns and promotional offers of the business, selling goods and services to the customers based on their needs and budget requirements. They also write sales reports, inspect the validity of merchandise, and maintain an attractive visual display of items. A merchandise planner resolves and escalates customer complaints timely, processes replacements, and issues refunds as needed.
Store managers and buyer and merchandise planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Manager And Buyer | Merchandise Planner | |
| Average salary | $68,964 | $69,460 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $110,000 | Between $46,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Pandora |
| Best paying industry | - | Retail |
There are a few differences between a store manager and buyer and a merchandise planner in terms of educational background:
| Store Manager And Buyer | Merchandise Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Akron | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between store managers and buyer' and merchandise planners' demographics:
| Store Manager And Buyer | Merchandise Planner | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% | Male, 37.1% Female, 62.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.1% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |