Merchandising Jobs - Marketing Consultant Job Description

June 17, 2010

Name: Marg
Job Title: Marketing Consultant
Where: Northeast PA
Current Employer: National Marketing Company
Years of Experience: 6
Other Relevant Work Experience: Program Coordinator/Writer
Education: BA Sociology, Assoc. Equivalency Paralegal, Assoc. Education
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find the median salaries for marketers.

Merchandising Jobs – Marketing Consultant Job Description

Many businesses need their products to be marketed creatively, not just via advertising or the Internet, but through face-to-face contact with potential customers. An intriguing display can help draw people in to sample products and get information. For a successful marketer, flexibility is key – changing products, setting up multiple displays, and interacting with various consumers may all be part of a days work. In this Salary Story, an experienced marketing consultant describes what it's like to market products in various retail locations. Find out why merchandising jobs can be both fun and challenging.

PayScale: What is your marketing consultant job description?

Merchandise products from manufacturers, set up displays, distribute sample products, brochures and coupons to consumers.

PayScale: How did you get started as a marketing consultant?

Started as supplemental work years ago in grocery stores. Although it is still part-time, the work has entered other retail markets.

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PayScale: What do you love about merchandising jobs?

Flexibility of scheduling your own hours of work during the week. Paid-for miles, meeting interesting people, not having to linger hours in one place unless completing a reset or large display. Schedule your own breaks or none at all.

PayScale: What are the biggest challenges you face as a marketing consultant?

Not enough hours; it is part-time only unless more work becomes available in your area. It is hour specified/limited (you have to complete your work in every store within a set time period).

PayScale: What advice would you give to someone interested in merchandising jobs?

View the following: Job Exchange Support Group listed on my YouTube page (mms196). If breaking into this field (merchandising/marketing) or any field, talk to someone in the field, realize the job’s limitations, join my group (Job Exchange Support Group) or other support group in your area; continue your education to enter a solid/lucrative career (this work is usually a part-time position); enjoy the work you do, look for peer support in this field, apply for marketing work with other companies (as long as there is no conflict of interest). Don’t downgrade yourself or your work – it is essential and important to the retail/marketing industry. Read the book, What the Dog Saw, by Malcom Gladwell (insightful reading).

PayScale: What have you found most interesting about your merchandising jobs?

I have given advice and tips to employees in the stores that I visit on job searching and tips on other jobs. I have the flexibility to schedule my own breaks for as long as I see fit (break or lunch at any restaurant or cafe) while working.

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