The role of a merchandiser largely depends on the type of company a candidate is applying to work for. In larger companies, the role of a merchandiser is to find appropriate products to stock and sell in relation to the analysis of sales reports. Smaller companies may also require a person in this position to price goods and make orders. A merchandiser works in close contact with buyers and company management.
There are a number of skills a person in this role should have, such as a strong background in retail sales reporting and data analysis. In addition, working collaboratively with a team is important, not to mention computation skills to calculate sales figures and data. The job is quite fast paced, so candidates should not be easily flustered.
Due to the usually high competitiveness of the industry, companies largely prefer candidates for a merchandise position to have several years’ experience, on top of the right qualifications. An advanced degree in business, marketing or commerce is generally beneficial. A candidate can expect to earn between C
$30,000 and C
$40,000, or even more in large companies found in Toronto, Montreal and other major cities.