Articles
Retail Merchandising
Retail merchandising in a nutshell is selling and/or maintaining products in a retail store. In a retail setting, merchandising is an effort to capitalize on trends, marketing strategies, product placement and various other factors that maximize merchandise sales. This is done by using product design, packaging, pricing, and displays that encourage consumers to spend more money. Merchandising products is used in all retail trade classes and for all types of products found in stores today.
Due to rising costs incurred by retailers in hiring, training, and maintaining employees, it is becoming increasingly more common for retailers and companies to hire out their merchandising needs. Shelves need to be stocked, displays set up and maintained, as well as a variety of other merchandising tasks. While this used to be done almost exclusively by corporate and store employees, many consumer packaged goods companies and retailers alike have found substantial savings in hiring out these jobs to retail merchandisers. Merchandisers, for the most part are usually hired for specific short term or seasonal jobs generally as part time employees or independent contractors. Generally, Merchandisers can work for numerous companies at the same time that specializes in the needs of the Retail Industry.
Mystery shopping is another merchandising tool. Mystery shopping is a means of measuring the quality of retail services or as a way to gather specific information about products and services. Mystery shoppers pose as a normal customer. They are given a specific task, or script, such as purchasing a particular product, asking certain questions, or behaving in a certain way. They then provide feedback on their experience. Wouldn't you like to get paid for eating in a restaurant or for shopping?