Merchandising department is the star of the department
among all the working departments in the Export concern, because Merchandising
is the only department having maximum control over the departments and total
responsible for Profit and loss of the company.
After LPG (Liberalization, Privatization &
Globalization) the business gets more important and now merchandising is on its
hot seats. So, it is necessary to understand the day to day happenings of the star
department.
Merchandise- means goods bought and sold; and trading of goods.
Merchandising- is an activity of selling and promoting the goods.
a. What does a Merchandiser do?
Merchandiser is a person who interacts with the buyer and
seller, and also puts efforts into proper relation between buying offices/
buying agents/ agency and seller/ exporter in terms of executing an order.
b. Merchandiser in garment industries:
In the field of marketing and services, Merchandiser is at a
position of utmost importance, He is the person who co-ordinates with various
departments for a uniform business.
Objects of Merchandising
Merchandising denotes all the planned activities to execute
and dispatch the merchandise on time, taking into consideration of the 4 Rs to
replenish the customer.
- Right Quantity: To dispatch right quantity of product what buyer
ordered.
- Right Quality: It should be with right quality as accepted both
parties.
- Right Cost: Everybody wants more from what they are paid.
- Right Time: No one wants to wait idle even in a Restaurant.
Keeping delivery schedule is mandatory.
Qualities of Merchandiser
- Communication Skill: The communication is very much important to
promote the business activity. The merchandiser should remember that
communication must be lurid and should having face to face conversation
with the buyer.
- Planning Capability: Merchandiser should be capable of planning,
based on the planning the order is to be followed. If the planning is not
done properly it will directly affect the delivery time of the order.
- Decision making: For a Merchandiser, decision making power is most
important. He should think about the decision to be taken and to act in a
right way.
- Loyalty: Loyalty is an essential character of human beings. Especially
for the business people like merchandiser it is a must.
- Knowledge about the field: Merchandiser should have
adequate knowledge about the garments, Computer knowledge, and technical
knowledge to communicate with different people in the business is a must.
- Co-ordinate & Co-operate: Merchandiser is the person who
is actually co-ordinate with the number of departments. To Co-ordinate
with different people in the industry he should be co- operative.
- Monitoring ability: Merchandiser should monitor to expedite the
orders.
- Other qualities: Education, Experience, Situational Management, Ability
to Evaluate, Dedication, Knowledge of expediting procedures.
Function of Merchandisers
- Developing new samples, execute sample orders
- Costing
- Programming
- Raw materials / Accessories arrangement
- Production scheduling (or) route card drafting
- Approval of various Process, Pattern and size set
- Pre production follow up
- Meet Inspection Agencies
- Production controlling
- Identifying shortages and make arrangement for the
shortages
- Following
quality assurance procedures, quality control procedures
