Merchandiser

— Debra Templar

Who is a merchandiser?

Basically merchandisers work out the floor plan and decide the display of products in a big retail store. Merchandisers are responsible for ensuring that products appear in the right store at the appropriate time and in the correct quantities. This involves working closely with the buying teams to accurately forecast trends, plan stock levels and monitor performance. While the buyer selects the lines, the merchandiser decides how much money should be spent, how many lines should be bought and in what quantities. In smaller companies, the same person may be responsible for both buying and merchandising.

Merchandisers play a key role within organizations, as profitability can be affected by how successfully they undertake their work. Merchandisers are experts in Store Layout, Decoration, and window display and use visual tools to attract customers. They also help in planning promotions and markdowns as necessary. They also oversee delivery and distribution of stock and deal with suppliers.