Should You Become a Walmart Merchandiser? An In-Depth Look at the Role

Are you searching for an active, social job in retail? Do you want to learn valuable skills in customer service, sales, and inventory management? If so, a position as a Walmart merchandiser may be perfect for you.

As a Walmart merchandiser, you’ll get hands-on experience driving sales by overseeing product presentation and inventory control in a busy store environment. It’s a great way to gain entry into the world of retail.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every aspect of the Walmart merchandiser role. You’ll learn insider tips directly from current merchandisers, see how an average shift runs, find out how to advance in the job, and more.

Let’s start by examining exactly what a Walmart merchandiser does day-to-day.

What Does a Walmart Merchandiser Do?

Walmart merchandisers handle a wide range of duties related to managing inventory and sales floor presentation. On an average busy shift, you can expect to:

• Stock newly arrived inventory onto sales floors and shelves
• Create eye-catching displays that showcase products
• Arrange merchandise neatly on shelves and tables to maximize appeal
• Place pricing labels and signage for clear communication
• Monitor inventory levels and reorder items that are selling out
• Identify and remove damaged, expired or recalled goods
• Assist customers by answering product questions and locating items
• Process returns and exchanges
• Provide backup to cashiers when the front end gets busy
• Receive inventory shipments and scan them into the system
• Take inventory counts to verify stock levels
• Assemble items like bicycles and furniture
• Stage online order pickups and deliveries

It’s a role that requires multi-tasking various duties simultaneously. The work is fast-paced with a mix of physical tasks like shelving and lifting, and customer-facing activities.

You’ll walk an average of 3-5 miles per shift according to employee surveys, sometimes pushing heavy carts of stock. During the busier holiday season, merchandisers may log up to 15,000 steps per day according to fitness trackers!

When displayed inventory starts getting low, you need to prioritize re-stocking while still handling customer needs. Multi-tasking and time management are crucial skills for this job.

A Day in the Life of a Walmart Merchandiser

To give you a better feel for the job, let’s look at a typical day for a Walmart merchandiser:

7-8 AM: Store Opening

You’ll start each morning by reviewing the store’s game plan for any sales or promotions happening. Check for any sold out items that need to be prioritized for restocking.

Scan emails from management regarding merchandising initiatives or instructions. For example, they may request a summer clearance display to be built.

Walk through your assigned areas, straightening displays and removing any damaged goods. Engage with any early-bird customers who have questions.

8 AM – 12 PM: Stocking Shifts

For much of the mid-morning, you’ll be focused on restocking inventory. Unload the latest shipment and scan it into inventory. Stock the items onto shelves, arranging neatly.

Create promotional displays highlighting sale items or new products. Make them eye-catching and inviting for customers.

As you stock, continuously tidy shelves by pulling forward inventory and disposing of empty boxes. Keep tables organized and free of clutter.

12 – 2 PM: Customer Service Focus

With shelves freshly stocked, you’ll have more availability to assist customers for the next few hours. Circulate on the floor, offering help locating items or providing recommendations.

Handle returns at the customer service desk and answer product questions in detail. Cover the front end registers if needed.

2 – 5 PM: Inventory & Merchandising

In the last half of your shift, verify and adjust inventory counts for low products. Place reorders for any severely depleted items.

Build any displays requested by management, ensuring proper signage. Takedown or refresh existing displays as directed.

Continue to monitor inventory presentation. Identify fast-selling items to pull forward and replace missing shelf tags. Remove recalled items.

5 – 6 PM: Floor Recovery

In the last hour before close, focus on final floor recovery. Push out stray carts, tidy checkout lanes, and consolidate go-backs at the fitting room.

Spot mop spills and re-hang any disorganized apparel racks. Ensure closing managers inherit a neat and orderly sales floor for the night.

While this shows one potential schedule, your daily tasks will vary based on store needs. You may be assigned price changes, overhead stocking, or phone directory updates. Flexibility is key!

Walmart Merchandiser Hours and Pay

Walmart offers both full-time and part-time merchandiser positions. Here’s an overview:

Full-time:

• Average 35-40 hours per week
• Scheduled early morning, afternoon, and evening shifts
• May include weekends and holidays

Part-time:

• Average 10-25 hours per week
• Typically scheduled for mornings and weekends
• Great for students or those seeking supplemental income

Pay:

Walmart merchandisers earn from $11-$13 per hour on average. Your exact pay will depend on prior experience, store location, and role type. Some perks like 401(k) and healthcare benefits are only available for full-time positions.

Education and Skills Needed

A high school diploma is preferred for Walmart merchandising roles, but not required. No prior retail or merchandising work experience is needed either. It‘s an excellent entry-level opportunity!

While anyone can learn the basics of the job, certain skills will help you excel as a Walmart merchandiser:

• Customer service – Assisting shoppers with friendly service is a major part of the job
• Organization – Keeping inventory precisely arranged takes attention to detail
• Time management – You must prioritize and multi-task effectively
• Teamwork – Collaboration with peers is essential for success
• Communication – Clear communication with customers and coworkers is a must
• Physical stamina – You need to handle long periods of walking, lifting, bending, etc.

Walmart does provide on-the-job training to help new merchandisers build these skills. Still, coming in with strong abilities is key for advancement.

Career Paths and Advancement

Many people view Walmart merchandising roles as just temporary jobs. But they actually offer interesting career paths for those who excel.

With demonstrated success, Walmart merchandisers can progress to lead positions like:

• Department Manager – Oversees an entire department and its staff
• Support Manager – Manages daily store operations and customer initiatives
• Assistant Store Manager – Helps lead the overall store under the Store Manager

From there, opportunities even exist to advance to Store Manager, Market Manager, and corporate positions. It‘s not uncommon for executives to start as hourly store employees. The hands-on experience provides a strong foundation for bigger roles.

Tips for Success from Current Merchandisers

We spoke to several of Walmart’s top merchandisers across the country to get their insider tips for succeeding:

• “Be a sponge during training – ask lots of questions and learn best practices.” (Mark K., Illinois)

• “Make displays interactive when possible – have samples for customers to touch and try.” (Sarah P., Ohio)

• “Build rapport with regular shoppers. A little personal touch goes a long way.” (Lewis Y., California)

• “When restocking, bring extra inventory out to the floor. Don’t wait for shelves to empty.” (Emma T., Georgia)

• “Stay positive during the holidays. The busier shifts make the time fly by.” (Diego C., Texas)

• “Wear comfortable shoes. Some walking comfort tips – roll feet from heel to toe, keep shoulders back.” (Eric L., New York)

• “Keep an extra uniform shirt in your locker for spills or customers with special requests.” (Aisha K., Florida)

These tips from current merchandisers can give you an edge if you land the job!

Is a Walmart Merchandiser a Good Job for You?

At the end of the day, being a Walmart merchandiser is a great job for people who:

• Enjoy variety and fast-paced environments
• Are comfortable being on their feet for long periods
• Thrive in customer service roles
• Possess strong organizational abilities
• Have a baseline level of physical fitness
• Want entry into retail, sales or operations careers

However, it may not be ideal for those who:

• Prefer slow-paced office settings
• Dislike repetitive tasks or manual labor
• Lack physical stamina and mobility
• Don‘t have transportation to accommodate varying shifts

The role can serve as a perfect first job or supplemental income opportunity. It also offers viable advancement potential within Walmart for committed individuals.

The next time you visit Walmart, take a moment to chat with one of the merchandisers. They’re happy to give you further insight into this essential retail career path.

Conclusion

Walmart merchandisers play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in store operations and the customer experience. They keep inventory stocked, displays artistic, and sales floors presentable.

While the work is fast-paced and physical, it provides terrific retail experience. With the right motivation, Walmart merchandisers can grow into management roles and beyond.

If you think you have what it takes to keep hundreds of shelves organized and thousands of customers happy, a job as a Walmart merchandiser may be right for you!