The range of products Urban Outfitters has to offer often astounds me. They sell everything from neon clothing, to cookbooks, to toys, to hipstery apartment wares for young women and men. Not only that, but many of these items are made by independent designers, which means there’s a lot of coordination involved. All of these products have been scrutinized by the people responsible for the merchandising of the store. One of these roles is that of Merchandising Assistant, who assists with basic aspects of orders and shipments.
Photo Credit: Flickr user Villian Media, LLC.
A Merchandising Assistant helps with basic aspects of retailing and selection of merchandise. They may be in charge of orders and shipments, supervising sales personnel, keeping records, obtaining samples and materials, and dealing with customers who are returning or exchanging merchandise. Merchandisers work closely with each store, deciding what items to send them. They also work closely with buyers, so that when they do sales forecasts they can let the buyers know what items will be needed and when. Lastly they work closely with the finance department at sales time to let them know what items to reduce and at what discount.
While a typical day for a Merchandising Assistant varies, it generally includes these tasks:
A Merchandising Assistant makes an average of $35,000 per year. After being a Merchandising Assistant, you can go on to become a Junior Merchandiser where you are responsible for planning and strategy and potentially even managing a small team, and then on to Merchandiser where you are the overall manager of the team. You might even branch off into buying. As a Fashion Buyer, you can expect to make about $72,000 per year. Or you could specialize in a particular area such as a Handbag Buyer, and earn around $83,000 per year.
If you want to be in fashion, New York and Los Angeles are the places to be. Merchandising Assistants who work within the garment manufacturing trade often live in or commute to one of these two fashion hubs.
To be a Merchandising Assistant you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in either apparel development, apparel manufacturing, or apparel product management. Hopefully your core classes will cover manufacturing and production, fashion design and textile sciences. Beyond that it helps to know Spanish, be organized, and have an ability to analyze data. Furthermore, you should have an awareness of retail and try to get some experience on a shop floor.
If merchandising still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Color/Concept Intern | New York, NY |
| Product Management Assistant - Print/Color/Accessories | New York, NY |
| Sr. Inventory Planner | Sandpoint, ID |
| Lead Sales Assoc, 101 Coldwater Creek Rd | Dewy Rose, GA |
| Buyer, Direct | Sandpoint, ID |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Production Lead | Missouri City, TX |
| Production Associate or Clerk | Missouri City, TX |
| Human Resources Recruiter | Houston, TX |
| Corporate HR Recruiter | Houston, TX |
| Human Resources Executive Assistant | Houston, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Product Designer - Footwear | Irvine, CA |
| Senior Product Manager - Running Apparel | Canton, MA |
| Senior Product Manager - Outerwear Apparel | Canton, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Database Integration Technician | Provo, UT |
| Fast-paced tech company seeks Android Mobile developer | Provo, UT |
| Graphic Illustrator Intern | Fairfax, VA |
| Director Licensing Soft Goods | New York, NY |
| Associate Director, MBA Career Development/Relationship Manager | Babson Park, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Intern - Collegiate Social Media Coordinator | Redwood City, CA |
| Account Manager | Redwood City, CA |
| Design Lead | Campbell, CA |
| Email Marketing Manager | Redwood City, CA |
| Platform Business Development Manager | Redwood City, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Intern | New York, NY |
| Assistant Professor | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Assistant Visual Merchandiser | New York, NY |
| Accounts Payable Clerk | New York, NY |
| Junior Designer | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Copywriter | Brooklyn, NY |
| Jr. Photo Stylist | Brooklyn, NY |
| Jr. Assistant 597 | Houston, TX |
| Staff Intern | Brooklyn, NY |
| Copywriter 35k Immediate need! | Brooklyn, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Civil Construction Senior Estimator | Midland, MI |
| Restaurant Team Member Crew | Columbus, OH |
| CNC Lathe Person | Manchester, CT |
| Loss Prevention Associate - Weekend Shift | Lynchburg, VA |
| Loss Prevention Supervisor - 2nd Shift | Lynchburg, VA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Bilingual Sales Associate (English/Hawaiian) | Hilo, HI |
| Bilingual Cashier (English/Hawaiian) | Hilo, HI |
| Bilingual Sales Associate (English/Mandarin) | Kansas City, KS |
| Bilingual Cashier (English/Mandarin) | Kansas City, KS |
| Bilingual Freight Associate (English/Hawaiian) | Hilo, HI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Junior Stylist | San Francisco, CA |
| Retail Operations Associate at a Fun, Fashion Start-Up! | San Francisco, CA |
| Retail Operations Associate at a Fun Start-Up! (swing shift) | San Francisco, CA |
| Customer Service Warehouse Associate | San Francisco, CA |
| Acquisition Marketing Manager | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Director of Catering | Philadelphia, PA |
| HVAC Technician/Engineer | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Manager/Senior Manager, Global Events | New York, NY |
| Social Media and Public Relations Coordinator | Atlanta, GA |
| Wholesale Ecommerce Assistant, RTW | New York, NY |
| E-Commerce Production Associate | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Catalog Merchandising Internship | Middleburg Heights, OH |
| Catalog Director | Cleveland, OH |
| Call Center Sales Supervisor | Cleveland, OH |
| Computer Operator - 3rd Shift | Middleburg Heights, OH |
| Call Center Representatives | Middleburg Heights, OH |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Copywriter | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| Digital Marketing Specialist - Games | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| Tv Assistant Producer - Fall 2013 Internship | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| On Call Editor | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| Associate (Picking - Schedule B) | Roanoke, VA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Summer Internship - Troy, MI | Troy, MI |
| INTERN - AK | Cordova, AK |
| Senior User Interface Software Engineer ASP.net C# | San Francisco, CA |
| Systems Architect - Java, eCommerce | Chicago, IL |
| Senior Software Engineer - Java, eCommerce | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Independent Fashion Sales Merchandiser, Chloe + Isabel | United States |
| Director Human Resources | New York, NY |
| Web Designer / Senior Graphic Designer | New York, NY |
| Visual Designer | New York, NY |
| Vice President Sales | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Director. Global Digital Marketing | Hoffman Estates, IL |
| Operations Analyst/UAT Lead | Hoffman Estates, IL |
| Store Manager-Corona, NY | New York, NY |
| Store Manager-Burlington, VT | Burlington, VT |
| Store Manager-Pentagon City, Arlington, VA | Arlington, VA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| R&D | Paramount, CA |
| Shipping and Receiving Manager | Industry, CA |
| QA/QC Manager/Director | Paramount, CA |
| Web Developer | Paramount, CA |
| Network Administrator | Paramount, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Sales - Business Development Rep | Concord, CA |
| Early Childhood Clinical Supervisor | Berkeley, CA |
| Occupational Therapist/OT | Fremont, CA |
| Account Marketing Manager - Eastbay | Portland, OR |
| Studio Photographer | Wausau, WI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Communication Technician 2 | Wixom, MI |
| Intern | New York, NY |
| Production Intern | New York, NY |
| Interaction Designer | New York, NY |
| Lead Visual Designer | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Copywriting Intern | Boston, MA |
| Junior Photo Studio Stylist, Joss & Main | Boston, MA |
| Inventory Planning Analyst | Boston, MA |
| Account Manager | Boston, MA |
| Merchandise Content Associate | Boston, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Web Content Editor | Austin, TX |
| Web Content Editor | Austin, TX |
| Intern - Online Editor | Austin, TX |
| Partner Management Intern | Austin, TX |
| Intern - Partner Management | Austin, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Test Engineer | Schenectady, NY |
| Lead Electrical Engineer | Gainesville, TX |
| Technical Buyer | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Licensed Mental Health Therapist - Part-time | Salt Lake City, UT |
| ENERGY PROJECT DIRECTOR | Washington, DC |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Web Developer | Brooklyn, NY |
| Merchandising Director/Head Buyer | Brooklyn, NY |
| Assistant Buyer | Brooklyn, NY |
| Associate Buyer | Brooklyn, NY |
| Senior Planner | Brooklyn, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| SEM Sales Specialist | Austin, TX |
| Senior Partner Manager | Austin, TX |
| Manager, Strategy Development | Austin, TX |
| Director - Talent Acquisition | Austin, TX |
| Senior UX Designer | Austin, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Developer | Chevy Chase, MD |
| Summer Program Staff - Eastern 4-H Center | Columbia, NC |
| Summer Camp Staff - Millstone 4-H Camp | Ellerbe, NC |
| 4-H Summer Assistant | Fort Pierre, SD |
| Cook II | Chevy Chase, MD |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Business to Business Sales | Youngstown, OH |
| Summer Internship Program | Seattle, WA |
| Graphic Designer, Lead | Seattle, WA |
| Home Based Telemarketing | Cincinnati, OH |
| Website Production Assistant (Temporary) | Seattle, WA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Summer MBA Internship – Analytics | Philadelphia, PA |
| Free People Videographer Assistant (7653) | Philadelphia, PA |
| App Sales Rep- Retail Vertical | New York, NY |
| Anthropologie: Jr. Art Director Print (7705) | Philadelphia, PA |
| Anthropologie - Brand Editor | Philadelphia, PA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| VP, Mobile Advertising Sales | Santa Monica, CA |
| Copywriter | Santa Monica, CA |
| Photo Studio Assistant | Santa Monica, CA |
| Marketing and Social Media Intern | Santa Monica, CA |
| Product Management Intern | Santa Monica, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Associate, Business Development | New York, NY |
| Internship: Video Summer 2013 | New York, NY |
| Internship: Content and Editorial Summer 2013 | New York, NY |
| Internship: Photography Summer 2013 | New York, NY |
| Director of Marketing CRM | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Fish Processor | Denali, AK |
| Fish Processor | Denali, AK |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Product Designer | Chicago, IL |
| Part Time Detailer/Service Agent - Summersville | Summersville, WV |
| Sales Representative (Style Expert) | Chicago, IL |
| Field Service Associate | Chicago, IL |
| Delivery Rep | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Product Marketing Assistant | Hollywood, CA |
| Manager, Marketing/Web Analytics | Hollywood, CA |
| Creative Director | Hollywood, CA |
| Social Media Coordinator (Player-Generated Content) | Santa Monica, CA |
| Web Application Developer | California |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Associate Editor | New York, NY |
| Temporary Assistant Photo Editor (Online/Web/Digital) | New York, NY |
| Home Editor | New York, NY |
| Director, Corporate Communications | New York, NY |
| VP, Merchandising | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Technical Designer | Sidney, NE |
| Financial Analyst II | Sidney, NE |
| Color Analyst | Sidney, NE |
| Project Analyst Team Lead | Sidney, NE |
| Pricing Analyst | Sidney, NE |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Business to Business Sales | Jefferson, CO |
| Home Based Telemarketing | Phoenix, AZ |
| Merchandise Planner NY | New York, NY |
| Merchandise Planner LA | California |
| Design Director | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Sales Office Assistant | Denver, CO |
| Medical Assistant Internal Medicine ACB | Houston, TX |
| Maintenance and Engineering Manager | Henry, IL |
| Head Chef of Japanese Cuisine - San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| Special Event | Troy, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Developer | Lincoln, NE |
| Director, International Bear Merchandising/Inventory Management and Marketing | St. Louis, MO |
| Manager, Licensing and Partnership Bear | St. Louis, MO |
| Senior Incubtax Accountant | St. Louis, MO |
| Sports Foundation - Program Manager | Northeast, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Human Resource M&A Senior Associate Actuarial | Boston, MA |
| Retirement Actuarial Senior Associate (M&A) | Chicago, IL |
| Social Worker - Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) | Asheville, NC |
| SALT M&A Director | New York, NY |
| SALT M&A Manager | New York, NY |
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