Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Merchandisers
Merchandisers plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
Table of contents
What they do
Merchandisers plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
- Dress mannequins for displays.
- Plan commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers.
- Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
- Change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Merchandisers place prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor. They consult with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping staff, or engineering staff to determine the appropriate placement of displays or products.
A typical day for a Merchandiser will also include:
- Maintain props, products, or mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections, doing touch-ups, cleaning up after customers, or applying preservative coatings as necessary.
- Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
- Develop ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations.
- Dress mannequins for displays.
- Consult with advertising or sales staff to determine the type of merchandise to be featured and the time and place for each display.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Merchandisers also instruct sales staff in colour coordination of clothing racks or counter displays. They may also construct or assemble displays or display components from fabric, glass, paper, or plastic, using hand tools or woodworking power tools, according to specifications.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Merchandisers take photographs of displays or signage. They might also obtain plans from display designers or display managers and discuss their implementation with clients or supervisors.
In addition, they prepare sketches, floor plans, or models of proposed displays.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
To some Merchandisers, it is also their responsibility to install booths, exhibits, displays, carpets, or drapes, as guided by the floor plan of the building or specifications.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
64% said they were satisfied with their job and 35% said they found their job meaningful.
My name is Vanessa and I’ve worked for a few different fashion companies before I decided to focus on Marketing within the industry.
One of the most fun fashion-related jobs I had, was being a Visual Merchandiser for a large retail chain. The work was very interesting, dynamic and no day was ever the same. What’s more, I also got to travel a lot through the country and meet so many lovely people – some of whom became really close friends of mine.
A typical day would always start with a big cup of strong coffee, together with the rest of the shop employees. We would discuss trendy items, positioning of key pieces within the shop floor, and any ideas they might have for how to improve sales on certain items that weren’t performing as well. After the morning meeting, I would look at what the briefing from my manager is for the day and get cracking! I would often spend whole days working on the front windows of the shop. Picking out the clothes and accessories, steaming everything and making sure it looks perfect, arranging the whole display…the list goes on and on.
I would also frequently go for meetings with other Visual Merchandisers for the brand, or travel to different locations to help out when there’s a new store launch for example.
Pros
The pros of the job definitely outweigh the cons in my opinion. Being a Merchandiser is a super fun and exciting job and I can guarantee that you’ll never get bored doing it. Furthermore, it allows you to explore your creativity and socialize with many other like-minded people, so you can always exchange ideas and experiences with other VMs.
Cons
The biggest con I would say is that it can be quite a time-consuming job and if you’re a perfectionist like me, you can easily get carried away with fixing every single tiny detail. You’re also constantly on your feet and carrying relatively heavy pieces of equipment, so it can be considered a somewhat physically demanding job as well.
Overall, being a Visual Merchandiser is an amazing job to have and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in fashion!
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
One of the lowest paying jobs.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Merchandisers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $22,440 to $26,450 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $51,750 | $25 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $38,890 | $19 |
| Median | $30,810 | $15 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $26,450 | $13 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $22,440 | $11 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Merchandisers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $54170 | $26.04 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $51150 | $24.59 |
| Automobile Dealers | $48330 | $23.23 |
| Specialized Design Services | $47420 | $22.80 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $44000 | $21.15 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $41650 | $20.02 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $41640 | $20.02 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $41580 | $19.99 |
| Gasoline Stations | $41520 | $19.96 |
| Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | $41440 | $19.93 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Merchandisers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Merchandisers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | 25250 | $32860 | $15.80 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 22040 | $34050 | $16.37 |
| General Merchandise Stores | 15880 | $33610 | $16.16 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 6650 | $40590 | $19.52 |
| Clothing Stores | 4550 | $33770 | $16.24 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 4180 | $32920 | $15.83 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 3290 | $29900 | $14.37 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 2980 | $51150 | $24.59 |
| Home Furnishings Stores | 2780 | $35010 | $16.83 |
| Furniture Stores | 2340 | $37570 | $18.06 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
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Group discussions
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Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Fashion Modeling
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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