Merchandiser Job Description
Recruit an organised, commercially-minded Merchandiser to keep the right stock in the right place at the right time — supporting sales, margins and store availability.
What does a Merchandiser professional do?
A Merchandiser plans stock levels and allocations, manages promotional and seasonal ranges, and uses sales data to maximise availability and margin across stores or channels.
Merchandiser job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Merchandiser
About the role
[Company] is recruiting a Merchandiser to own stock planning and allocation for [category/team] across [location/region]. You will use sales and inventory data to forecast demand, plan assortments and promotions, work with buying and store teams to deliver timely replenishment, and provide regular reporting to commercial leads. This is a full-time, permanent role reporting to the Head of Merchandising.
Key responsibilities
- Produce short- and medium-term sales forecasts and translate these into purchase/stock plans.
- Manage allocation and replenishment of stock across stores and online using inventory systems and historic sales.
- Plan assortments and range mixes for stores or channels based on customer profiles and sales performance.
- Schedule and support promotional activity and price/markdown planning to protect margin and clear stock.
- Monitor daily/weekly sales and availability metrics; investigate and resolve stock discrepancies.
- Liaise with buyers, suppliers and logistics to ensure on-time delivery and accurate receipts.
- Create and maintain planograms or stock directives in conjunction with visual merchandising.
- Prepare regular commercial reports and present insights and recommended actions to stakeholders.
Essential skills and experience
- Proven retail or wholesale merchandising experience (typically 1–3+ years depending on level).
- Good numeracy and the ability to interpret sales and inventory reports accurately.
- Practical experience using Excel for analysis (pivot tables, lookup functions) and familiarity with inventory/EPoS/ERP systems.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail when managing multiple ranges and timelines.
- Clear communicator with experience working across buying, store and supply teams.
- Flexible approach to working hours when supporting peak periods or store roll-outs.
Desirable
- Experience with planogram software or visual merchandising guidelines.
- Knowledge of retail replenishment logic and allocation methodologies.
- Previous experience in the same product category or sector.
- A level or degree in a commercial, numerate or retail-related subject.
- Experience using business intelligence or forecasting tools.
What we offer
- Competitive salary — enter amount or range
- Pension scheme (employer contribution) — enter details
- Holiday allowance — enter entitlement
- Staff discount or product benefits — enter details
- Training and development opportunities
- Flexible working or hybrid options where eligible
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Merchandiser role?
Merchandisers are responsible for translating commercial strategy into stock plans and store assortments that meet customer demand and margin targets. They analyse sales and stock data, allocate and replenish inventory, manage promotional activity and work closely with buyers, suppliers and store teams. The role combines analytical work with operational coordination across sourcing, logistics and retail teams.
Day-to-day
Forecasting, stock allocation, promotional planning and daily sales/availability checks to keep ranges healthy and available.
Key outputs
Accurate forecasts, allocation plans, promo plans, stock reports and recommendations to protect sales and margin.
Who you'll work with
Buyers, category managers, store managers, supply chain and visual merchandising teams.
Typical Merchandiser responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Produce short
Produce short- and medium-term sales forecasts and translate these into purchase/stock plans.
Manage allocation
Manage allocation and replenishment of stock across stores and online using inventory systems and historic sales.
Plan assortments
Plan assortments and range mixes for stores or channels based on customer profiles and sales performance.
Schedule
Schedule and support promotional activity and price/markdown planning to protect margin and clear stock.
Monitor daily/weekly sales
Monitor daily/weekly sales and availability metrics; investigate and resolve stock discrepancies.
Liaise with buyers
Liaise with buyers, suppliers and logistics to ensure on-time delivery and accurate receipts.
Create
Create and maintain planograms or stock directives in conjunction with visual merchandising.
Prepare regular commercial reports
Prepare regular commercial reports and present insights and recommended actions to stakeholders.
Merchandiser skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Proven retail or wholesale merchandising experience (typically 1–3+ years depending on level).
- Good numeracy and the ability to interpret sales and inventory reports accurately.
- Practical experience using Excel for analysis (pivot tables, lookup functions) and familiarity with inventory/EPoS/ERP systems.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail when managing multiple ranges and timelines.
- Clear communicator with experience working across buying, store and supply teams.
- Flexible approach to working hours when supporting peak periods or store roll-outs.
Useful where relevant
- Experience with planogram software or visual merchandising guidelines.
- Knowledge of retail replenishment logic and allocation methodologies.
- Previous experience in the same product category or sector.
- A level or degree in a commercial, numerate or retail-related subject.
- Experience using business intelligence or forecasting tools.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Merchandiser job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Lead with commercial impact
Highlight the category or channel, prime objectives (availability, margin, sell-through) and the team's KPIs so candidates know what success looks like.
Be specific about systems and hours
If particular inventory, EPoS or forecasting systems are used, note them. State shift patterns, weekend requirements and travel between stores.
Describe progression and scope
Explain whether the role covers a region, a specific set of stores or online, and outline typical career paths (e.g. Senior Merchandiser, Category Manager).
Use clear placeholders
In the advert include editable placeholders for salary, contract type, reporting line and the exact location to avoid ambiguity.
Merchandiser salary considerations
Merchandiser pay varies widely by retailer size, product category, region and experience. Rather than quoting a single figure, consider the following factors when setting the salary.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Merchandiser candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
Where is the role based and is travel required?
Candidates want clarity on head-office location vs store visits, typical travel frequency and whether mileage or travel time is reimbursed.
What are the typical hours and shift patterns?
State standard working hours, any required weekend or evening shifts and if flexible/hybrid working is available.
What performance metrics will I be measured on?
Common KPIs include availability, sell-through, margin, stock turn and forecast accuracy—specify which matter most.
Which systems will I use?
Name the primary stock, EPoS, forecasting or BI systems and whether training is provided for system onboarding.
Is there scope for progression?
Candidates expect to know typical next roles and how performance is linked to promotion or development.
Who will I report to and who will I work with day-to-day?
Clarify the reporting line and cross-functional contacts such as buyers, store ops and supply-chain managers.
Where to post a Merchandiser job
This role suits a mix of broad and specialist advertising. Use national and regional job boards to reach experienced retail merchandisers, sector-specific sites and retail forums for category specialists, and professional networks for mid-senior candidates. Local store groups and social media channels work well for store-focused roles; for head-office merchandising consider targeted recruitment within retail/commercial communities.
Related retail & wholesale job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Merchandiser job description FAQs
How much merchandising experience should a candidate have?
Typical hires range from entry-level assistants with 1–2 years' retail experience to experienced Merchandisers with 3+ years managing allocations and forecasts. Specify the level clearly in the advert.
Do Merchandisers need qualifications?
There is no mandatory professional qualification for Merchandisers. Employers often prioritise practical retail experience, numeracy and familiarity with forecasting tools; relevant degrees can be advantageous but not essential.
Is travel between stores usually required?
Many merchandising roles require some store visits, particularly for allocation, roll-outs or seasonal launches. State expected travel frequency and whether travel expenses are reimbursed.
Should I include exact salary figures in the advert?
Including a salary range improves candidate response and transparency. If you prefer not to state a figure, describe the pay band and benefits clearly to set expectations.
How do I measure success in this role?
Common measures include in-stock availability, sell-through rates, stock turn, forecast accuracy and contribution to margin. Align the role's objectives with the most relevant KPIs up front.
Ready to hire a Merchandiser?
Use this template to craft a clear job advert, then advertise across targeted retail channels to attract candidates with the right commercial and operational skills. If you need wider distribution, consider multi-board posting to increase reach.
