Retail merchandisers may work for a specific company, or may perform their work as a "freelancer". Their duties entail visiting various stores and creating displays for the product, setting up signage for the product, and creating other ways to promote product. This may include setting up giveaways, or handing out samples to customers. A retail merchandiser's role is to increase sales through their work.
Education
Having an education can be advantageous for those seeking a career in retail merchandising. While an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in marketing or retail merchandising is not necessarily required in this field, having such a degree will definitely help you to have the edge over other applicants. At the very least, one should possess a high school diploma. When pursuing a degree in these fields, you may consider courses regarding business, marketing, and computer science and increase your knowledge and skills in the field.
Experience/Skills
Many retail businesses looking to hire look for previous retail experience. They may also look for things like excellent communication skills, the ability to work with minimal supervision, an understanding of computers, and sometimes proficiency with digital cameras. Customer service is also a vital part in retail merchandising.
Job Options
Make a decision about the variety of retail merchandising jobs that you want to take up before searching for a position. The arena of retail merchandising is extensive, and there are a wide range of jobs available such as a window dresser, sales representative for a pharmaceutical firm, purchasing manager for retail companies, sales analysts for moderating present business trends, etc.
Salary
The average salary in retail merchandising jobs is around $20,000 to $30,000 however this can vary greatly depending on the position, and the company. Part-time retail promoters can make anywhere from $18 to $50 per hour, and a corporate visual merchandising director can make around $96,000 annually. In large companies, merchandisers can also receive benefits like paid vacation, health insurance, sick days, 401(k) plan, and more.
