MERCHANDISE MANAGER

DUTIES  Merchandising managers choose and purchase the various products offered for sale by a variety of retail outlets. They oversee a staff and maintain a budget while performing assigned duties that enable a successful company. The primary goal of a merchandising manager is securing the best goods for the lowest cost to the company. A number of employers also assign marketing duties to merchandising managers.

EDUCATION  Professionals employed as merchandising managers possess various degrees of education and experience. Larger retail organizations often prefer purchasing managers with a bachelor's degree in merchandising, business or economics. Courses that aspiring merchandising managers might want to consider include accounting, finance and management.  Graduate education, like a master's or doctoral degree, can make a candidate more desirable for merchandising management positions with larger businesses or retail organizations.

ABILITIES  Good communication  Being able to take initiative  Taking risks  Being able to interact with customers  Determined

PERSONAL QUALITIES  The career test told me I scored high in customer service and retail. I think this is a big part in being the merchandise manager. You have to be able to connect with customers and get a feeling of what they like and dis like. If there is no one buying the clothing then odds are they are not liking the clothing being bought into the store.

SALARY  Purchasing management positions are expected to increase more slowly than other professions, at a rate of just 4% between 2012 and In May 2013, the mean annual salary of a merchandising manager was $109,640. The highest-earning ten percent of merchandising managers made $165,810 or more during the same period.

LOCATIONS  Careers for merchandising managers can be found with boutiques, department stores and other retail outlets.

AVAILABILITY  A manager for any company plays a big role. A merchandise manager should be very open to having a busy schedule.