Role and Responsibilities of a Merchandiser

Types of merchandising

• Export Merchandising

• Merchandiser in Buying House

• Merchandiser at buyers end

• Retail Merchandiser

Manufacturing

• In a proper manufacturing set up role of merchandising are:

• Production merchandising

• Development merchandising

• Sourcing merchandising

• Planning merchandising

• Production merchandising

who take care of all in house activities

• Development merchandising

who take care of product development

• Sourcing merchandising

who take care of procurement

• Planning Merchandiser

who take care of production planning

Merchandiser in Export house

• Merchandising development based on buyers objective

• Interaction with buyer

• To interact with the various department of a manufacturing unit

• Costing

In Export house

• To send samples to buyer

• Development of lap dip and strike off and desk loom

• To take approval from buyers

• Procurement of fabric, trims

• To carry out the final inspection at factory end

• To make sure that the shipment goes on time

Buying house

• Buying house work as intermediateries the buyer and the vendor

• 60-70% world wide buying routes through the buying house

• These are situated predominantly at the vendors location

• Work on profit percentages/commissions

Buying house merchandiser

• Bridge the gap between buyer and vendor

• Vendor selection and vendor benchmarking

• Analysis of market/ order processing and QA

• Group buying

• Give approvals some times

• Vendor audit

Buyer

• A buyer is a brand

• GAP, Nike, Adidas are all brands as well as buyers

• Most of the brands in the word are outsourced their merchandise

Buyer

• Many Buyers/brands have their local office near the manufacturing facility these offices are called liaison offices

• These liaison offices works under the head office of the buyer.

Buyer merchandiser

• Vendor selection and benchmarking

• To work in between head office and factory

• To take the samples on time

• To give all approval on time

Buyer merchandiser

• Merchandise planning

• Vendor management

• On time shipment

• Quality audits

• compliance

Roles and Responsibilities Product Development & Sampling Fabric & Trim Sourcing Costing & Negotiation Fits & Pre-Production Approvals Maintaining Records Plan Factory Capacity & Allocations Fabric Booking Trim Confirmations Color / Fabric approval Fit approval Testing Production & Line Planning Production Follow up Quality Audits & Shipment Status Quota / Embargo Movements Vessel / Flight Planning Documentation

Skills

• Time Management

• Planning and Organizing

• Communication

• Negotiation

• Teamwork

Proactive-nessBe Proactive

Proactive tasks – Active positive tasks you must do to achieve the objective. It is taking initiative by not being pushy, obnoxious or aggressive but by being affirmative and assertive.

Reactive tasks – Day to day tasks that land on your desk everyday and has to dealt with to keep things running

Proactive personManages current tasks well.

Allocates time for the projects.

Completes small part of huge goals everyday.

Is guided by the goal set for future.

Translates desires into results.

 Reactive PersonGets bogged down by the external environment – emails, phone

Uses time to get by.

Has no time for development projects.

Works to find a short term solution.

Importance vs. Urgency

These are not the same things. Something urgent is not necessarily important. Urgent tasks should be dealt with straight way taking out the minimum time. Positive tasks are always the important ones and reactive tasks are rarely important.

The objective here is to :

Maximize return of time.

Maximum fulfillment.

Reduces stress.

Covey's Framework

Urgent Non Urgent

I II

Important Activities : Activities :

Crises Prevention

Pressing Problems PC Activities

Deadline Driven Projects Relationship Building Planning

III IV

Activities : Activities :

Non Important Interruptions Trivia

Calls Busy workMail MailPressing Matters Phone CallsPopular Activities Time Wasters

Pleasant Activities

Covey’s Framework

Planning and Organizing skills

Allows us to effectively utilize resources.

Allows us to anticipate problems.

Enables us to communicate our intentions to others.

Assists us to evaluate how realistic the objectives are. Assists us to evaluate alternative means of achieving

objectives.

Assists us to establish priorities.

Helps reduce firefighting.

Daily tool

" If you are not in control of your day, you are not in control at all. "

Most important self organizing tool ( if used) is a diary.

Maintain a diary.

Allocate time meeting with yourself.

Fill gaps by doing routine work.

Allow time to meet unexpected tasks, unmet deadlines.

Overcome obstacles by organizing yourselfOrganize your desk

Carefully arranged workplace enables you to work efficiently, feel good and save time.

" Messy desks reflect messy brain "

Desk filingDo now Do it today

Do soon Within a week

Read magazines/journals etc.

pass on pass/delegate.

file info that needs to be preserved.

misc. vouchers/invoices etc.

Manage Meetings

Have clear objective and an agenda.

Have correct choice of participants.

Prepare well.

Have clear idea.

Need sound leadership.

Avoid unnecessary interruptions.

Proper Filing & Record Maintenance

What to file?

The material that has value and relevance and that needs to be preserved.

Proper Classification

Have proper classification correspondence in separate folders/style files.

Special files poplin qualities/ trim file

Should be easily accessible to everybody.

Effective Communication & Negotiation Skills

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood "

Communication It is the process by which a person, a group or an organization (sender) transmits some information ( message ) to another person/group or and organization (receiver)

Channels of communicationWritten

Telephonic

Face – to-Face

Need to choose an appropriate channel for maximum effectiveness. It is a very important tool which is very critical for your success as an individual as well as a company.

Proper & Effective Communication

You should have proper background.

Current knowledge of the subject.

Right perspective & attitude

It should be precise, clear and to the point.

Good Listening skills.

Better relationships.

Access to relevant info.

Should be open minded

Not judgmental

With SubordinatesLearn what they expect from you.

Communicate expectations unambiguously.

Be fair, don't play favorite.

Be honest and ethical.

Show concern.

With SuperiorsKnow what is expected of you.

Know what info serves his needs.

Give well considered ideas.

Share important suggestions and grievances.