Merchandising

What is Merchandising?

Merchandising is about planning and developing a strategy to enable a company to sell a range of products that delivers sales and profit targets. It is often explained as:

"...getting the right merchandise, in the right place, at the right time, in the right quantities at the right price."

The word "Merchandiser" is a generic term for a job role that some companies may also refer to as "Stock Controller", "Distributor" or "Allocator". However, the role is the same whatever the name, and you will require the same attributes and skills in each position.

A Merchandiser is instrumental in all commercial decisions for a retailer, such as:

• How much money should be spent
• How many different product lines should be bought
• What quantity of products should be bought
• Setting selling prices to regulate profit
• When the stocks should be delivered into the business

Graduate level Merchandising

Graduates careers in Merchandising will usually start at Allocator or Merchandise Assistant level where you learn ground rules of the business and all the principles of merchandising.

What do Merchandisers do?

As a graduate working in Merchandising your main responsibility will be to analyse data for weekly reviews of sales and assist the Merchandiser in following the merchandise plans by allocating stock to your firm's stores.

It is likely that you will also be given the responsibility for complex logistical roles such as:

• Ensuring the correct delivery of stock - it will be your job to chase up deliveries from manufacturers and ensure they arrive at your firm's warehouse, on time.

• Arranging for stock to be allocated to specific shops appropriately - it will be up to you to arrange for stock brought in to your firm's warehouses to be re-delivered to individual shops, in appropriate quantities.

Becoming a Merchandiser

Opportunities exist within fashion and non-fashion retail companies and in both high street and mail order operations. There are clear paths for progression within all large retail organisations, often with possibilities for rapid promotion prospects for good performers. For example, you could be responsible for sales and budgetary control of a multi-million pound department and managing a team of people, all within four years of joining a retail company.

Applying for Merchandising

Graduates interested in applying for Merchandising roles will need to be mathematical, analytical and should also be passionate for the industry they are applying to work in.

More specifically, graduates should have a:

• Retail specific or Business/Maths based degree
• Recent experience of a retail environment
• Minimum level C Maths GCSE
• Computer Literacy (especially Excel)
• A good level of commercial awareness/industry knowledge.