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How To Become A Merchandiser

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Make A Full Or Part Time Income With Flexible Hours!

Question 1: What is retail merchandising?

Answer: activities designed to promote in-store sales, including shelf layout, counter cards, mobiles, point of purchase displays, events, etc. 

Question 2: How did you become a retail merchandiser?

Answer: I became a merchandiser in 2004, while raising money for my first trip to Uganda. I could pick and choose the jobs I wanted, set my own hours (within a specified time frame), and work (or not) whenever I want. The money is good; it averages out at about $10.00/hour. All in all, a great career choice for someone who often takes off on a trip to who knows where whenever the notion hits!

So how do you get into merchandising? Not through one of those scams that ask you to pay for information already available for free, or info that's just plain WRONG! Be smart, do your homework, and you'll find what you're looking for.

This is just an introduction to retail merchandising, but you'll soon find that it's fun, interesting and insightful into the real world of retail sales. Best wishes as you explore! 

 

What You Need (And What You Don't) To Become A Successful Merchandiser

What You'll Need:

*Reliable Computer With Internet Connection And A Printer Many companies will send you job information and ask you to input work information through their web sites.

*Good People Skills- you will need to cultivate good relationships with job schedulers, store staff and customers during your visits, so a patient, pleasant attitude and willingness to help is always a plus.

*Initiative- especially when you're starting out. YOU are responsible for finding your own work. DON'T get scammed by people selling lists or info that GUARANTEE jobs. It doesn't work that way!

*Ability to work on your own- AKA Personal Responsibility!
You will have to make sure you have all your paperwork and materials together, and that the work is done to the best of your ability. You also need to report and/or send all of the required documentation to the company completed in a timely manner, ie: BEFORE the stated deadline. Deadlines in merchandising must be strictly observed.

*Reliable Computer With Internet Connection And A Printer Many companies with send you job information and ask you to input work information through their web sites.

*Good English Skills- brush up on your reading, writing and comprehension if you're rusty. Many vendors ask for detailed information regarding the store, associates, and other things you noticed during your store visit.

*Reliable Transportation & Childcare-
Note: You CANNOT take children with you on jobs for safety reasons.

*Digital or Cell Phone Camera- You may be required to take pictures of completed displays for the vendor. These are usually sent by email.

*A Credit Check And/Or Drug Test- some stores require EVERYONE who works there to have a credit and/or drug test for security reasons.

What You DON'T Need:

*A Bad Attitude

*To Pay For Legitimate Jobs Or Information

Not Required, But It Helps

Home Office Equipment- Look into the purchase of a FAX machine, paper shredder and other office supplies to help you organize your work and be professional.

*A certification from a recognized organization such as the National Association for Retail Marketing Services: NARMS.
Merchandisers with certifications receive preferred status with job schedulers. The tests are fairly simple, and a small testing fee is required for the certification, which you will probably make up with the paycheck from your first jobs. Technical terms, procedures and information about merchandising that will be on the test is available for free on the NARMS site.

Legitmate Merchandising Companies I've Worked For

These are just a few legitimate companies, check Google for more leads and info!

Premium Retail Services
Founded in 1985, Premium Retail Services offers full-service, nationwide retail merchandising, auditing and assembly services engineered for retail businesses in virtually any trade channel.
Action Link
At ActionLink, it's our goal to make the link between your product and the consumer as simple as possible.
Lawrence Merchandsing Services
For over 45 years, manufacturers and retailers have depended on Lawrence Merchandising Services to position many of the nation's top brands through quality, reliable in-store merchandising support.
National In-Store
Whether your brand retail objectives are national or market specific NIS has the people, processes and experience to..."Get It Done At Retail"
Crossmark
CROSSMARK is dedicated to building and maintaining long-term partnerships with our clients, customers and associates by providing an exceptional level of service delivered with passion, integrity, innovation and consistency.
SAS Merchandising Services
Total Retail Solution
Service Solutions
Services Solutions is a specialist with extensive experience in every facet of merchandising.
SPAR
The company provides merchandising services to manufacturers and retailers in multiple classes of trade such as grocery, mass merchandiser, and drug stores.
Mosaic
From display installation and visual merchandising to retail associate training, Mosaic ensures the quality control that translates into sales.
Quest In-Store Services
Quest is a retail services firm that provides merchandising, marketing, fixture installation, construction, and project management services to leading retailers, vendors, and fixture manufacturers nationwide.
Rhodes Retail
Welcome to Rhodes Retail. To us,
merchandising isn't just a job. It's
our life.
Strategic Merchandising Partners
Established in 1997, Strategic Merchandising Partners has a solid reputation and distinguished history of creating and implementing innovative field marketing solutions that drive sales, enhance value, and increase ROI
MarketStar
Don't wait. Join the leader in sales & marketing outsourcing and begin an exciting career without limits.

Links To Get You Started

Here are some links to get information and certification as a retail merchandiser.

Please add any *legitmate* links to this list. Any spam sites will be deleted. NOTE: You do NOT have to pay to get merchandising jobs.

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How to Get Work as a Merchandiser

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ShadowShopper | Mystery shopper and Secret shopper shopping jobs delivered daily!

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Merchandising Job Boards

Volition
Mystery Shopping, Merchandising & Demo Job Posts
Lila's Lounge
This forum (one of the largest) is a friendly community for mystery shoppers, merchandisers, demo people. Jobs are usually posted by schedulers. Great resource for beginners!
Shadow Shopper
Job posts for mystery shopping, merchandising and demo work. This is the ONLY paid job board worth the cost. High end vendors and good paying jobs make the membership fee pay for itself in a short time. Pick and choose as you please, but these are LEGITMATE jobs with great companies that will build your résumé in no time. Job posts can be emailed to you daily, as they become avaiable.
Retail Service Industry
Retail Service Industry has numerous jobs available across the country. We need your help! This service is absolutely free for all job seekers, no membership fees!

Read About Merchandising

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Merchandising Blogs from Google

Cabela's Beats, Eyes Expansion
Cabela's Inc. (CAB), one of the leading specialty retailers of hunting, fishing, camping, and related outdoor merchandise, delivered better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2011 results. The results were backed by healthy performance of retail stores, ...
Study: Online retailers aren't ready for tablets
Fewer than one-third of retailers have optimized sites for tablet commerce, according to a report, "Mobile & Tablet e-Commerce: Is anyone really ready?" by Zmags, a provider of rich media mobile and social merchandising. Zmags commissioned HawkPartners ...
26 DECA students advance to state competition
Second place ? Joshua Richards, Business Finance; Darean Urban, Marketing Management; Danae Garrettson, Hotel and Lodging; Christian Paris, Automotive Services; Jim Mutigli, Sports and Entertainment; Kayleigh Spencer, Retail Merchandising.
Retailers Say 2012 Will Be All About Customer Interaction and Experience
A new report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation and KPMG LLP, ?Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012,? outlines retailers' top strategic initiatives for 2012 including merchandising, ecommerce, store and field ...
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  • Reply
    GiftRepSandy Feb 14, 2012 @ 9:32 pm | delete
    Interesting! Can you explain exactly what a Merchandiser is? Sorry if this is a dumb questions -- you just did not address that in your lens and I think it would be very helpful!
  • Reply
    badmsm Feb 14, 2012 @ 11:14 pm | delete
    Thanks for visiting!

    In the intro, I explain what merchandising is: activities designed to promote in-store sales, including shelf layout, counter cards, mobiles, point of purchase displays, events, etc.

    A merchandiser sets things up and makes those things happen. :)
  • Reply
    AvonGirl Nov 25, 2011 @ 10:13 pm | delete
    thanks!
  • Reply
    LindaJM Sep 19, 2011 @ 2:22 pm | delete
    Thanks for a few ideas on merchandising!
  • Reply
    CCGAL Aug 16, 2011 @ 9:10 am | delete
    This is cool - I worked for a specialty food company once where I went in and ordered product then stocked the shelves for that company's brands. The job title was merchandiser, but the scope was a little different than what you've described here, as I had set days and times I had to be in the store to order and again to unpack and stock. Still, it was a fairly decent job and I enjoyed it.
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badmsm

Bette Miles-Holleman is a retail merchandiser, customer service analyst, model and stylist with over 25 years experience in the fashion... more »

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