What does a Merchandise Manager do?
Merchandise managers control the sourcing, purchasing, and delivery of products within a retail environment. Large companies are often in charge of a single department and have a team of purchasing agents that work under them while merchandise managers at smaller companies perform almost all tasks. They usher their employer’s products from a supplier into a retail location and represent their employer during communication with vendors; they are responsible for maintaining a positive working relationship with all vendors and negotiating product and shipping prices and the evaluation of new vendors.
Merchandise managers are responsible for understanding the features and benefits of products and deciding whether the product is a hot seller for the target demographic. They also continually analyze key performance indicators to determine which products generate the most revenue and which sell less than projected. Merchandise managers need a minimum bachelor's degree in business, merchandising, marketing, or related fields.
- Serve as the mentor and coach for all team members.
- Ensure the store is always guest ready through effective replenishment.
- Support strategies and processes to drive store sales and deliver results through a customer centric mindset.
- Analyze daily/weekly sales reports and propose product movement and rotation, including between onsite and online channels.
- Maintain store appearance with a focus on prime shopping hours, product presentation and company standards.
- Recruit, select and develop new hires. manage a team of merchandisers.
- Readily adjust schedule, tasks, and priorities when necessary to meet business needs.
- Recommend, plan and/or implement employee training and skill development activities.
- Lead and develop teams and have a general understanding of employment law.
- Manage a merchandising team.
- Maximize sales and service by ensuring staff is scheduled appropriately.
- Utilize site merchandising analytics and sales data to optimize online merchandise performance.
- Audit regularly to ensure standard operating procedures are being adhered to.
- Document and apply disciplinary actions and make recommendations concerning discharge.
- Oversee team leaders' workload planning including transitions, revisions and sales plans for all areas.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in business or computer science, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with AutoCAD, Cloud, and planogram software and systems.
- Demonstrated leadership, time management, and problem solving skills.
- Prior experience as a consultant.
- Able to showcase business acumen and attention to detail.
- Can collaborate and negotiate.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
- Lead with composure at all times.
Merchandise Manager Salaries
Average Base Pay
Merchandise Manager Career Path
Learn how to become a Merchandise Manager, 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
Merchandise Manager Insights
Ann Taylor“Everyone I worked with at Ann Inc. was very nice and pleasant to work with.”
Kohl's“Management is out of touch to what the day to day of the individual contributors is.”
J. C. Penney“When my salaried position was eliminated after 35 years I was given one day notice with 2 weeks pay.”
Lowe's Home Improvement“Pay was decent and bonuses good”
Neiman Marcus Group“Great Boss that was fun and easy going”
DICK'S Sporting Goods“Stable and good job security”
Sam's Club“OVERTIME hours is not so good”
The Children's Place“No focus on learning and personal development”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of a Merchandise Manager
- Retail Merchandiser
- Merchandiser
- Manager
- President