Trade guide
Merchandising manager
Sales is a complex business, but it’s a highly profitable one if you use the right tools. A good presentation, an effective marketing strategy and good sales arguments are the keys to success. This is where the merchandising manager comes in. We reveal all the secrets of this fascinating profession.
The business
What is a Merchandising Manager?
Its role
The Merchandising Manager plays an important role in the success of a sale. They play a part in developing a company’s turnover. Their main objective is to enhance a sales area to make it more effective and attractive. This increases the visibility of products and encourages consumers to buy them.
Its field of action
The Merchandising Manager also works very closely with the Marketing Manager and the sales teams. Together they definethe company’s merchandising policy and the strategies for implementing it. Their duties include studying and designing product layout plans and merchandising models. They base their work on the type of point of sale and the region in question.
It studies the needs of the shop to determine the decor and elements needed to enhance it. To boost sales, they create an attractive environment. This involves the furniture and its layout. There are also advertising media (POS, brochures), accessories such as bags, gifts and staff outfits. They are designed in line with the brand’s visual identity to become its sales force.
The functions
What are the duties of a Merchandising Manager?
The merchandising manager has several tasks. The first is to design the merchandising policy with a competent team. He or she then directs its implementation by defining effective strategies. They carry out studies to implement the various merchandising models on behalf of the store. Upstream, he or she is responsible for :
presentation and advertising materials ;
presentation and advertising materials ;
merchandising strategies and marketing objectives ;
managing the merchandising team;
promoting shops and products;
determine the consumption pattern of the target group;
identify the strengths and weaknesses of the shops ;
create a stage setting around the product.
Qualifications
The qualities and skills needed to be a good merchandising manager
A good merchandising manager must have specific skills. They need to know the products to be sold, and the positioning and ethos of the retailer they are working for. This expert must be proficient in all the software used to work, as well as in merchandising techniques and strategies. They have good interpersonal skills and a great sense of design.
They know all the right sales techniques for attracting new buyers. To do this, they need to understand consumers and their habits. They know how to keep an eye on the competition to bring their brand’s plans into line with market practices.
In terms of the qualities required to be a good merchandising manager, the most important are rigour, dynamism and creativity. The professional must be capable of leading a team. To bring projects to fruition, they need to be methodical. Good interpersonal skills and good negotiating and business acumen are also part of the list of qualities required.
The benefits
What are the benefits of becoming a merchandising manager?
The job of merchandising manager has many advantages. It’s a promising sector with very high recruitment demand. You have every chance of finding the ideal job.
The job is all the more interesting because the tasks are so varied. There’s creation, design, marketing, decoration and aesthetics.
You can work as a freelancer or consultant. This allows you to juggle several projects with different clients.
Remuneration
Merchandising manager: salary and career development
The job of merchandising manager is well paid. What’s more, you’ll enjoy a number of benefits. They depend on the size of the company you work for.
The averageentry-level salaryis between €1,800 and €2,000.
As experience increases, so does salary. A senior merchandising manager earns up to €3,000 a month, or even more.
As far as career development is concerned, you could become a floor manager or sales manager for a brand. In an agency, they may become marketing managers.
Up to
3 000€
Monthly salary
Training courses
How do you become an HR Manager?
Our training courses
To become a merchandising manager, the INSEEC business school specialising in management and marketing offers the following branches:
Alternation
These courses are available as initial or sandwich courses. You can also check out the different career opportunities in marketing. If you have any questions about the schools, please contact us or consult our FAQ.
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