The duties of a merchandise manager vary depending on store size and include overseeing visual store displays and product placement to maximize sales. They work closely with coworkers, vendors, and designers. A bachelor's degree in marketing, fashion merchandising, business, or related field is typically required. Key abilities include knowledge of trends, creativity, business and market savvy, and strong communication and leadership skills. Salaries average $32,000 annually but increase substantially with experience and company size, with higher pay in fashion centers like New York and Los Angeles.

1. MERCHANDISE
MANAGER
JUSTIN GONZALES

2. DUTIES
• Duties vary according to different factors, including:
size of the retail store, demographic, staff
availability, etc.
• The main purpose of a merchandise manager is to
oversee the visual elements of a store (i.e.
displays, placement of product, etc.) in order to sell
the most merchandise.
• They must work closely with their co-workers whom
work for them in the set-up and break-down of all
visual elements of a store.

3. DUTIES (CONT.)
• In select stores, merchandise managers must work
closely with vendors and designers in order to help
buyers purchase items for the store (this is most
common in large specialty stores)

4. EDUCATION
• Education requirements depend on company
policies and expectations.
• On average, a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in:
marketing, fashion merchandising, business, or any
other related field is needed to be successful as a
merchandise manager.
• However, art degrees (design, interior design, etc.)
may also be useful in this field since a lot of duties
include creative/artistic promotion of products.

5. ABILITIES/PERSONAL QUALITIES
• Knowledge of
trends in fashion.
• Business oriented
• Creative
• Knowledge of
market trends and
customer
demographics

6. ABILITIES/PERSONAL QUALITIES
(CONT.)
• Friendly (with co-
workers, buyers,
vendors, etc.)
• Open-minded
• Authoritative
• Educated

7. SALARY
• Merchandise managers can earn on average
$32,000 annually.
• Salary can increase dramatically with
different companies and duration of
employment

8. LOCATION/AVAILABILITY
• Higher-paying jobs in this field are located in
“fashion capitals” (i.e. New York City, Los Angeles)
• However, almost every individual retail store has a
merchandise manger (depending on the size of
that particular company)
• It is said that this job field will increase in
employment by 7% in the next ten years
• As of right now, it may be hard to get a job
immediately as a merchandise manager; it will
require starting off at an entry level position and
working towards the top.

9. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos023.htm#outlook
• http://www.insidejobs.com/jobs/merchandise-
manager
• http://www.indeed.com/salary/Merchandising-
Manager.html