What are the qualities required for merchandiser?

Answer 1

All merchandising companies strive to have the most professional, well-trained and competent merchandiser work force

available.

As a merchandiser, what you do for one client might be completely different from the expectations of another client. Therefore, it

is extremely important that you have the basic merchandising skills before working on your first project.

In the following pages, you will learn the basics of merchandising including:

• Starting Your Day

• Plan-o-grams

• Components of a Plan-o-gram

• Process for Setting a Plan-o-gram

• Reporting

• Fixtures

Starting Your Day

In merchandising, every day can be different! It is the excitement of knowing that the work is not boring that brings thousands of

people to the profession of merchandising.

While each day's work varies, there are some basics that you need to keep in mind for any project that you are working on:

• Be organized. Have all the information supplied by your company with you and review it prior to the actual store visit.

• If you have several stores to visit, make sure you have directions to each store location (if you are not sure, call the

store for specific directions).

• Make sure you have all the necessary forms, plan-o-grams, company directives and instructions for that specific project.

• Know the person(s) names and titles in the store you are visiting.

• Are tools required? Have a box cutter, hammer, screw driver, measuring tape, packing tape, ladder and any necessary

tools outlined in your instructions. Don't forget a pen/pencil.

• Do you need protective equipment? Protective eyewear, gloves, ventilation mask, etc. should be included in your

instructions.

• Don't park in the prime parking spots. Those spots are reserved for customers.

• If the store requires you to sign in, do so. Greet the store personnel and introduce yourself and the company you are

working for.

• Perform each visit according to your company's directives.

• Complete required reports.

Plan-o-grams

The best way to describe a Plan-o-gram is that it is a design or "map" of where each item is placed on a shelf or peg hook on a

fixture.

Plan-o-grams are computerized blueprints developed at a store's headquarters. They are designed to ensure that the retailer

has the desired product displayed to the customer as well as the optimal inventory on each shelf after each merchandiser sets

the display. Knowing how to read and implement a Plan-o-gram is one of the most important skills a merchandiser needs to

have. It's not difficult to learn how to read and work with plan-o-grams and once you have mastered this skill, it will make your

work far easier and rewarding.

Components of a Plan-o-gram

• Cover Page - Some companies will have instructions, fixture accessories, signing and POP (Point of Purchase)

materials listed on a cover page. Other companies will save the paper and list all information on a schematic page. It is

important that you read any and all instructions on the cover page or the schematic.

• Schematic - all plan-o-grams will have a schematic. This is usually the computerized drawing of the plan-o-gram,

showing all the details to set it accurately. It will show the set date, how many shelves and peg hooks you will need,

details about the product placement, the width, depth and height of the plan-o-gram, and sometimes placement of

promotional materials. Plan-o-grams are typically set in 4ft sections. Each box on the plan-o-gram represents a product

facing. Numbers on the product facing are called Loc ID's and will cross reference the schematic to the SKU (Stock

Keeping Unit) Listings which will give you more information about each product.