In the garments industry apparel merchandising, organizational structure plays a pivotal role in orchestrating seamless operations. It ensures optimal efficiency. This article unveils the definition of Apparel Merchandising and its role according to a departmental organogram.
Table of Contents
What is Apparel Merchandising?
The word merchandiser came from merchandise. Moreover, merchandise comes from the Old French word “merchandise,” from “Marchand,” which means “merchant.”
The connecting person between the merchant and the merchandiser and the job is the merchandising.
There are two types of merchandisers in the garment industry. They are as follows:
- Factory merchandiser
- Buying merchandiser
Definition
Merchandising, according to the American Marketing Association (AMA)
“Planning involved in marketing the right merchandise or service at the right place, at the right time, in the right quantities, and at the right place.”
American Marketing Association (AMA)
Mechanising is the activity of trying to sell goods or services by advertising them or displaying them alternatively. The person who does the merchandising job is called a merchandiser.
Organogram of Merchandising Department
The organogram of the merchandising department is as follows:
Executive Director
⬇️
Sr. General Manager
⬇️
General Manager (GM)
⬇️
Deputy General Merchandiser
⬇️
Sr. Manager
⬇️
Manager
⬇️
Sr. Merchandiser
⬇️
Assistant Merchandiser
⬇️
Trainee Merchandiser
Role of Merchandisers
The role of merchandisers, according to Organogram, are as follows
1. Executive Director:
- Oversee the entire merchandising department, setting strategic goals and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
- Provide leadership and direction to the senior management team.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, fostering collaboration and business growth.
2. Sr. General Manager:
- Manage and coordinate merchandising activities at a senior level.
- Contribute to the formulation of departmental policies and procedures.
- Assist the Executive Director in strategic planning and decision-making.
3. General Manager (GM):
- Supervise and lead the merchandising team, ensuring effective execution of departmental goals.
- Implement and monitor merchandising strategies to enhance overall efficiency.
- Liaise with other departments for cross-functional collaboration.
4. Deputy General Merchandiser:
- Support the General Manager in overseeing merchandising operations.
- Act as a bridge between senior management and the rest of the merchandising team.
- Assist in decision-making processes and problem resolution.
5. Sr. Manager:
- Manage a specific segment of merchandising activities or a specialized team.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of merchandising strategies.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members.
6. Manager:
- Oversee day-to-day merchandising operations within a designated area.
- Collaborate with the Sr. Manager to achieve departmental objectives.
- Ensure efficient communication and coordination among team members.
- Perform duties similar to the Manager role, focusing on a different aspect or segment of merchandising activities.
- Work closely with other managers to maintain a cohesive approach to merchandising.
7. Sr. Merchandiser:
- Lead merchandising projects and initiatives, ensuring successful implementation.
- Analyze production problems and make informed buyers regarding merchandising decisions.
- Guide Assistant Merchandisers and help to solve their problems.
8. Assistant Merchandiser:
- Assisted in day-to-day merchandising tasks, handled a dedicated buyer, and completed activities.
- Work closely with Sr. Merchandisers to support the execution of merchandising strategies.
- Collaborate with other team members to ensure seamless apparel production operations.
9. Trainee Merchandiser:
- An entry-level employee in the merchandising department. A graduate from the apparel engineering department always preferred the job.
- Undergo training to understand the basics of merchandising processes and procedures.
- Assist senior team members in various tasks to gain practical experience.
- Contribute to the learning environment and actively participate in team activities.
Learn More: Qualities of a Good Merchandiser
Mahedi Hasan is a Textile Engineer, as well as a Top Rated content writer at Upwork, a Level 02 Seller at Fiverr, Level 02 Publisher at Ezoic. A passionate textile and fashion content writer, fashion SEO expert, and fashion web designer. Having a B.Sc. in Textile Engineering Degree from Textile Engineering College, Noakhali (TECN). The department is Apparel Engineering. Highly Experienced fashion writer for the last 3+ years. Have extensive 7 years of experience in the wholesale clothing business.