Merchandiser

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To execute merchandising activities in assigned outlets by ensuring that company products are available, visible, correctly displayed, clean, properly rotated, supported by approved promotional material and presented in accordance with merchandising standards, customer outlet requirements and company sales objectives.

DESCRIPTION OF TASKS / PROCESSES AND OPERATIONS

• Key Result Areas and Related Activities

• Key Deliverables

• Final Approval

• 1. Outlet Visits and Call Cycle Compliance

• 1.1 Visits assigned outlets according to approved routes, call cycles and work schedules.

• Outlet visits completed. Call cycle compliance.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 1.2 Reports to assigned outlets on time and completes required merchandising duties during each visit.

• Attendance records. Store visit records.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 1.3 Advises the Merchandising Supervisor of any outlet access problems, route challenges or missed visits.

• Timely escalation reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 1.4 Maintains professional conduct and represents the company positively during all outlet visits.

• Positive outlet feedback. Reduced complaints.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 2. Product Display and Shelf Presentation

• 2.1 Displays company products neatly, professionally and in line with approved merchandising standards.

• Neat and compliant product displays.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 2.2 Ensures that products are properly arranged, clean, visible and accessible to customers.

• Improved product visibility.

• 2.3 Maintains correct product grouping, shelf order and product presentation where planograms or instructions are provided.

• Planogram and display compliance.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 2.4 Corrects poor product presentation, disorganised shelves or untidy displays during outlet visits.

• Corrective actions completed.

• 3. Stock Availability and Replenishment Support

• 3.1 Checks product availability on shelves and reports out-of-stock situations to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Stock availability reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 3.2 Replenishes shelves from available backroom stock where authorised by the customer outlet.

• Replenished shelves. Reduced shelf gaps.

• 3.3 Reports low stock, missing stock, delayed replenishment or supply concerns to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Stock issue reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 3.4 Supports improved shelf availability by following outlet procedures and company instructions.

• Improved shelf presence.

• 4. Stock Rotation and Product Condition

• 4.1 Rotates stock according to first-expiry-first-out principles where applicable.

• Stock rotation compliance.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 4.2 Checks expiry dates, product condition, packaging damage and product cleanliness during outlet visits.

• Expiry and damage reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 4.3 Removes or reports damaged, expired, short-dated or unsuitable products according to company and outlet procedures.

• Reduced expired or damaged stock on shelves.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 4.4 Reports recurring stock quality, packaging or handling concerns to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Product condition feedback.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 5. Promotional Material and Campaign Execution

• 5.1 Places approved promotional materials, point-of-sale materials, posters, shelf talkers, wobblers, banners and other display items as instructed.

• Promotional material correctly placed.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 5.2 Maintains promotional displays during campaign periods to ensure continued visibility and compliance.

• Promotion maintenance reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 5.3 Removes expired, damaged or unauthorised promotional materials where instructed.

• Updated promotional displays.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 5.4 Reports promotional execution challenges, missing materials or competitor interference to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Campaign issue reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 6. Price Visibility and Shelf Information

• 6.1 Checks that product prices are visible where pricing information is provided or managed at outlet level.

• Price visibility feedback.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 6.2 Reports incorrect, missing or unclear shelf pricing to the outlet representative and Merchandising Supervisor where applicable.

• Pricing issue reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 6.3 Ensures that product labels, shelf tags and promotional information are aligned with outlet instructions where authorised.

• Improved shelf information accuracy.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 7. Customer Outlet Relationship Support

• 7.1 Maintains professional working relationships with store managers, shelf packers, department staff and outlet representatives.

• Positive outlet relationships.

• 7.2 Requests shelf access, backroom access or display support through proper outlet channels.

• Proper outlet engagement.

• 7.3 Reports outlet complaints, restrictions, conflicts or recurring concerns to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Outlet issue reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 7.4 Complies with customer outlet rules, dress standards, hygiene requirements and conduct expectations.

• Reduced outlet complaints.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 8. Competitor and Market Feedback

• 8.1 Observes and reports competitor products, displays, promotions, shelf space and pricing visibility.

• Competitor activity reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 8.2 Reports customer buying patterns, fast-moving products, slow-moving products and outlet-level market feedback.

• Market feedback reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 8.3 Identifies display opportunities, shelf space opportunities and promotional visibility opportunities within assigned outlets.

• Opportunity feedback reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 9. Field Reporting and Administration

• 9.1 Completes daily or weekly merchandising reports accurately and submits them within agreed timelines.

• Reports submitted on time.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 9.2 Records outlet visits, stock issues, display status, promotional execution, competitor activity and customer outlet feedback.

• Complete field records.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 9.3 Provides accurate attendance and field activity information as required.

• Attendance and activity records.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 9.4 Escalates urgent issues immediately rather than waiting for routine reporting cycles.

• Timely escalation of urgent matters.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 10. Compliance, Safety and Use of Company Resources

• 10.1 Complies with company policies, customer outlet rules, health and safety requirements and field conduct standards.

• Compliance with rules and procedures.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 10.2 Uses company uniforms, tools, promotional materials and work resources responsibly and only for authorised purposes.

• Proper use of company resources.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 10.3 Maintains confidentiality of customer, product, sales, pricing and promotional information.

• Confidentiality maintained.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 10.4 Reports safety risks, incidents, damaged tools or loss of company materials timeously.

• Incident and resource reports.

• Merchandising Supervisor

• 11. Any Other Related Duties

• 11.1 Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Merchandising Supervisor or Merchandising Manager.

• Assigned duties completed accurately and timeously.

• Merchandising Supervisor

KEY DECISIONS MADE

• Decides on the sequence of merchandising tasks during assigned outlet visits, within approved instructions.

• Decides on immediate corrective action required to tidy displays, rotate stock, replenish shelves or improve product visibility.

• Decides when to escalate stock shortages, damaged stock, outlet access problems, promotional material gaps or customer outlet concerns.

• Recommends display improvements, shelf opportunities and stock replenishment actions to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Recommends corrective actions where outlet-level merchandising standards cannot be achieved due to practical constraints.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• Supervision Received

• Receives supervision from the Merchandising Supervisor through route plans, outlet visit schedules, merchandising standards, field checks, performance feedback, reports and regular operational instructions.

• Supervision Given

• The role has no supervisory responsibility.

KEY CONTACTS AND PURPOSE

• External Contacts

• Store managers and outlet representatives: to obtain access, resolve routine display issues and support product visibility.

• Store department staff and shelf packers: to co-ordinate stock movement, shelf access and display maintenance.

• Customer outlet security or receiving staff: to comply with outlet entry, movement and stock handling procedures.

• Internal Contacts

• Merchandising Supervisor: for instructions, reporting, escalation and performance feedback.

• Merchandising Manager: for occasional field instructions, audits or escalation where required.

• Sales Representatives: for customer outlet feedback, stock availability issues and product visibility concerns where applicable.

• Marketing team: for promotional materials and campaign execution instructions where assigned.

• Warehousing and Logistics: for stock availability feedback where authorised through the supervisor.

PLANNING

• Daily outlet visits to be completed according to approved route plans and call cycles.

• Merchandising reports to be submitted within agreed daily or weekly timelines.

• Promotional materials to be placed, maintained or removed according to campaign schedules.

• Stock shortages, damaged stock and outlet issues to be reported timeously.

• Urgent outlet or customer concerns to be escalated immediately to the Merchandising Supervisor.

• Field attendance and activity records to be completed accurately and within agreed timelines.

EDUCATION

At least five O Levels, including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent.

POST-SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS

• A certificate in Sales, Marketing, Retail Operations, Merchandising, Customer Service or a related field is an added advantage.

• Training in merchandising, stock rotation, customer service, hygiene, health and safety or retail execution is an added advantage.

• Basic computer or mobile reporting literacy is an added advantage where electronic reporting tools are used.

EXPERIENCE

• At least one to two years’ experience in merchandising, retail operations, field sales, store operations, promotions or customer service is preferred.

• Experience in FMCG, manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail or a high-volume trading environment is an added advantage.

• Experience in product displays, shelf packing, stock rotation, promotional displays or outlet-level customer service is preferred.

COMPETENCIES

• Product display and merchandising execution.

• Attention to detail and neatness.

• Stock rotation and shelf discipline.

• Customer service orientation.

• Field reporting accuracy.

• Time management and route discipline.

• Communication and escalation discipline.

• Ability to follow instructions and procedures.

• Physical stamina for field and store-level work.

• Ethical conduct and confidentiality.

• Health and safety awareness.

• Teamwork and professionalism.

• SUMMARY OF INDICATORS OF JOB SIZE IN THE ORGANISATION

• Merchandising execution in assigned outlets.

• Product visibility, shelf neatness and display maintenance.

• Stock rotation and reporting of stock issues.

• Placement and maintenance of promotional materials.

• Outlet-level field feedback and competitor observation.

• Accurate reporting of merchandising activities and outlet concerns.

HAZARDS AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

The role involves field work, customer outlet visits, shelf packing, movement within retail or wholesale environments, handling promotional materials and travel between outlets. The incumbent is required to comply with company health, safety, security and information governance procedures.

Specific safety requirements include:

Wearing prescribed personal protective equipment where required by the company or customer outlet.

Observing customer store rules, site safety requirements, hygiene procedures and manual handling guidelines.

Using ladders, shelves, trolleys or display equipment safely where authorised.

Observing road safety requirements when travelling between outlets.

Reporting safety risks, incidents, injuries or unsafe outlet conditions to the Merchandising Supervisor.