what is a merchandiser?

A merchandiser is a retail expert who plans and organises creative exhibitions in retail stores. Your job is to design the displays according to the seasons and promotional events. You assist shelf fillers with managing inventories to ensure they capture the audience's attention. Sometimes, the role involves formulating inventory plans and attractive displays to encourage sales and improve customers' buying experience.

As a merchandiser, you have a fast-paced job of projecting demands for certain products, working with buyers to purchase them, and even deciding on a budget for various products. You regularly work with analysts, suppliers and distributors deciding how much to pay for different products and how many product lines to buy. You oversee merchandise deliveries and stock levels and work through any issues.

A merchandiser's tasks vary daily, as a big part of the job is ensuring popular stock stays on the shelf each day rather than getting sold out. This means one of your skill sets is selecting the right number of products at the correct times. As a merchandiser, you deal with products from various industries. Sometimes, you focus on clothes during seasonal sales or jewellery at specific sale events.

merchandiser jobs
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average merchandiser salary

The salary of a merchandiser in Australia is $55,000 per year. As a new merchandiser, your remuneration package is $50,000 annually. Experienced merchandisers take home a salary of $60,000 per year. While merchandisers don't earn a commission for boosting sales of a particular product or brand, some employers award bonuses.

what factors affect the salary of a merchandiser?

The remuneration package of a merchandiser depends on the level of education and working experience. When you have academic qualifications, you are likely to earn more. Additional educational qualifications increase your pay due to the knowledge you bring to the role. Your skills and work experience also influence the salary. For instance, you are likely to earn more with additional transferrable skills. Merchandisers with exceptional experience receive higher remuneration packages than entry-level professionals due to their skills and knowledge.

As a merchandiser, the location also influences your salary. When you work in metro areas, your remuneration package is higher than those in smaller cities. The company size and products you deal with also influence your salary. When you work for a large retail store or supermarket, you are more likely to earn than a merchandiser working for a convenience or grocery store.

Want to know what you will earn as a merchandiser? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.

merchandiser salary
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types of merchandisers

Some of the types of merchandisers include:

  • retail merchandisers: you arrange retail products to ensure they are visually appealing. You display the inventory in a physical store to promote specific products. During a promotional event, you organise the products under promotion in a visually appealing display to attract the attention of buyers.
  • visual merchandisers: your primary role is to use visually appealing displays to lure customers and window shoppers and convert them to buyers. You let the customers discover products in a friendly manner. Visual merchandising focuses on creative window exhibits and designing the floor layout using lively colour schemes and bright lights.
  • digital merchandisers: you promote the merchandise on digital platforms. You use attractive images of products to conduct successful digital marketing campaigns.
  • omnichannel merchandisers: you combine various promotional options such as online and physical shops to attract buyers. Retail stores with social media presence utilise omnichannel merchandising to increase sales on various platforms. You share information on upcoming promotions or through email and phone.
female sitting, at work in the office
female sitting, at work in the office
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working as a merchandiser

Working in this role requires creativity to promote sales and attract buyers. If you are interested in the role, check merchandisers' responsibilities and work environments below:

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education and skills

In Australia, you don't require formal qualifications to become a merchandiser. However, completing a three-year bachelor's degree in sales, marketing, retail management, or business administration improves your career prospects. You gain knowledge about the industry sector and learn ways to create exciting window displays.

Some merchandisers complete vocation education training (VET), such as a Certificate III or IV in visual merchandising or marketing. Other merchandisers complete a diploma in visual merchandising.

merchandiser skills and competencies

Some of the skills of a merchandiser include:

  • analytical skills: as a merchandiser, it is important to be competent in working with numbers, analysing them to see trends, and using the data to plan for future product orders and stocking. Analytical skills help you predict industry trends and adjust the displays to suit customer preferences.
  • communication skills: a merchandiser is a good communicator. This job involves working with buyers and suppliers. Some of your tasks include writing emails and making phone calls. You also visit storefronts and suppliers and work with them to make decisions.
  • organisational skills: as a merchandiser, you organise product displays to create appeal. Your organisational skills are handy in creating attractive displays and store layouts. You also keep up with promotional activities and events.
  • sales skills: as a merchandiser, you promote sales through visual displays. You require basic sales skills to engage customers and attract their attention. Sometimes, you assist customers with shopping which requires sales skills.
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FAQs about working as a merchandiser

Here are the most asked questions about working as a merchandiser:

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