What does a Lead Merchandiser do?
Merchandisers help a company optimize their sales and profits by ensuring that retail stores and online stores are stocked with the right products in the right quantities. This may include stocking shelves, arranging and maintaining product displays, pricing products, and monitoring the store inventory. Some merchandisers also analyze sales data to identify best-selling lines and to develop promotional strategies.
Merchandisers typically need a high school diploma or GED, and often, a valid driver's license is required to travel to the assigned stores. Since merchandisers often work closely with buyers and customers, strong communication skills and a service-oriented approach are a must.
- Ensure that stores, shelves or websites are stocked with the right types and quantities of products
- Display, arrange, price, and rotate products in store
- Maintain store shelves by removing dated or damaged products
- Monitor store inventory based on sales and intake
- Optimize sales volume and profitability by identifying profitable lines and bestsellers
- Make recommendations for promotional strategies using sales and pricing data
- Work and communicate with buyers, suppliers, stores, and distributors
- High school diploma or GED
- 1-2 years of experience working in retail or merchandising
- Excellent analytical skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Must be committed to providing outstanding customer service
- May be required to travel to client locations (valid driver's license may be required)
Lead Merchandiser Career Path
Learn how to become a Lead Merchandiser, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Lead Merchandiser Insights
Marshalls“Super nice and helpful even if they don't really know how to explain things.”
Plant Partners“It was great to be outside and have some freedom to make the patio look good.”
Lowe's Home Improvement“For all the work and heavy lifting that was required for this job the pay was not great.”
Princess Auto“I am not easy to work with although I try to contribute and make friends.”
ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages“As a result of this and the usual route lengths the work/home life balance is terrible.”
Hampshire Farms“Only other person at my location refused to do outside work and that was stressful.”
SAS Retail Services“Loved my job when I got to work independently but supervisor and leads are complete idiots.”
Gordon's Enhanced Technology Marketing“This job worked great for me as a student since the pay is ok and I could work the hours around my classes.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of merchandisers
A typical day of a merchandiser is spent collaborating with suppliers, creating and organizing promotions in a store, managing and training employees, planning the store layout, ensuring a full inventory of products, researching market trends, and analyzing sales data. Merchandisers handle product appearance and work to increase sales.
Persuasive individuals who are highly observant thrive in a merchandising career. If you have strong organizational skills and enjoy being creative, you may want to consider becoming a merchandiser.
Working as a merchandiser can be a challenging and rewarding career. Having working knowledge of the retail industry and strong interpersonal skills helps successful merchandisers in their job. Merchandisers must pay attention to detail when working on floor plans for their store and work well under pressure to meet tight deadlines.