What does a Merchandise Associate do?
Merchandise Associates work in all types of retail settings, including grocery, department and discount stores and specialty shops. While the merchandise they handle might vary, their main duties are to keep the shelves fully stocked, tidy and organized to help increase sales. This role helps create a visually appealing retail space that makes products easy to find. Merchandise Associates may also encourage people to buy more items by positioning the products in highly visible locations. Spending so much time on the floor means Merchandise Associates interact regularly with customers to help them have a positive shopping experience.
Merchandise Associate skills and qualifications
Merchandise Associates use their retail experience and people skills to create a retail space that’s beneficial for the store and its customers. Some skills and qualifications they use to achieve that include:
- Being customer-oriented with the ability to handle a variety of people
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Exceptional organizational skills to manage products
- Ability to work well on a team
- Familiarity with technology, such as inventory systems
- Ability to move products to various locations and place them on shelves
- Strong communication skills
- Eye for visual design to set up displays in an appealing way
Merchandise Associate experience requirements
Most employers require at least some prior retail experience for Merchandise Associate careers. If candidates don’t have retail experience, a previous job in customer service or a similar role might be enough.
Merchandise Associate education and training requirements
Merchandise Associate positions typically only require a high school diploma. The position involves retail knowledge and soft skills, but it doesn’t require extensive technical skills or knowledge that would necessitate having a college degree.
Job description samples for similar positions
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Merchandise Associate job description FAQs
How can you make your Merchandise Associate job description stand out?
Open your Merchandise Associate job description with storytelling to familiarize interested job seekers with your company’s story. Use your store branding to spice up the job description and make it unique. For example, if you’re hiring for a trendy boutique, the language you use in the job description should match that style. Describe the types of products your store sells and how the candidate will interact with the products. Highlight any special perks you offer to your employees, such as a discount on product purchases.
Who does a Merchandise Associate report to?
An entry-level Merchandise Associate will likely report to a Senior Merchandise Associate or the floor Supervisor or Manager for the shift. They might also report to the Assistant Manager or General Manager, depending on the size of the store and the hierarchy of management. The person the Merchandise Associate reports to might change with each shift since retail stores have longer hours than offices and there are usually multiple Supervisors in each role.
What qualities make a good Merchandise Associate?
To be successful as a Merchandise Associate, a candidate should enjoy variety and be able to adjust to lots of change. The day-to-day activities vary based on the current condition of the store, so Merchandise Associates need to be ready for anything. The ability to prioritize tasks is also important. While stocking and organizing merchandise is their primary duty, Merchandise Associates need to be prepared to stop and help customers when they ask for assistance. An eye for visual design is also beneficial.
What is the difference between a Merchandise Associate and a Sales Associate?
A Merchandise Associate focuses on putting out stock, organizing the store shelves and keeping the sales floor visually appealing for customers. Their efforts can help boost sales by making products easy for customers to find, but they’re not directly responsible for generating sales. Merchandise Associates often end up helping customers since they spend a lot of their time on the sales floor, but this isn’t their primary job. A Sales Associate is primarily assigned to help customers throughout the sales process. In a specialty store, a Sales Associate might wander the store and approach customers to see if they need help. They answer questions, recommend products and use sales techniques to encourage customers to make purchases.
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