Retail merchandiser

You can do a degree before joining a retail company as a trainee merchandiser. Relevant subjects include:

• marketing
• fashion buying and merchandising
• fashion and business
• retail business management

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

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• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You can take a college course to become a retail merchandiser. Courses include:

• Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Retail Operations
• Level 3 Diploma in Fashion Retail
• Level 3 Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

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• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You may be able to start through a retailer intermediate apprenticeship or retail team leader advanced apprenticeship before moving into merchandising.

If you already have some retail experience, you could apply to do a buying and merchandising assistant higher or degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

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• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start in stock control or as a merchandise admin assistant and work your way up by learning on the job.

If you're interested in fashion retail, you could do a short course like an introduction to merchandising.

You can also take procurement and supply qualifications through the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply. These are recognised by the industry.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a retail merchandiser from the Fashion Retail Academy.

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to sell products and services
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Your day-to-day duties might include:

• planning product ranges and stock plans with buyers
• planning budgets, forecasting sales and profit margins
• presenting forecasts to managers
• visiting manufacturers with retail buyers to learn about production cycles
• negotiating prices and orders with suppliers, and agreeing delivery terms
• tracking stock deliveries, making sure goods arrive on time and meet quality standards
• setting prices and sales targets for individual stores
• helping visual merchandisers to plan store layouts to promote key lines
• promoting special offers and marketing initiatives
• analysing sales figures and trends
• staying aware of how competitors are performing
• identifying and sorting out production and supply problems
• managing, training and supervising staff

You could work at a store or in an office.