A merchandiser is responsible for planning and developing merchandising strategies, analyzing sales figures, customers reactions and market trends to anticipate product needs, collaborating with buyers, suppliers, distributors and analysts to negotiate prices, quantities and time-scales, and ensuring that stores, shelves or websites are stocked with the right types and quantities of products. Other duties and responsibilities of a merchandiser include:

• Displaying, arranging, and maintaining products to optimize sales.
• Creating attractive product displays and implementing promotional activities.
• Determining the need for and implementing product promotions, price changes, mark downs, clear outs, etc..
• Ensuring retail staff are well informed on product details and promotions.
• Maintaining and tracking inventory.
• Liaising between customer and company.
• Forecasting sales and profits.
• Managing budgets.
• Producing store sales by providing point-of-purchase and shelf management services.
• Maintaining customer relationships by visiting with store managers, department managers, and employees.

To be successful as a merchandiser, one should have excellent organizational, interpersonal, and decision-making skills, be up-to-date with merchandising trends, and produce sales through attractive product displays and promotions. A high school diploma/GED is required, and a BS degree in Marketing or related field is preferred.