How to Be a Smart Merchandiser

How to Be a Smart Merchandiser?

Merchandiser is the key player in Apparel Industry. He needs to be Smart for smart handling of every stage of an order for the sake of on-time goods delivery. Here are the major learning  to be a smart Merchandiser in the apparel industry 

Be a Smart Merchandiser:

1. Identifying the Fabric Contents & Construction: Merchandiser needs to know that the fabric has been made from which material and what is the weaving and knitting pattern. Learn how Yarn count & fabric GSM. For woven fabric contents and construction may not affect much in merchandising but for knitted fabric, it plays a very vital role which a merchandiser must understand. Also, merchandiser should have the price of fabric in the current Market

2. Understand Trims & Accessories: All items used in garments like yarn, fabric, interlining, pocketing, fusing, sewing-thread, button, Zipper, elastic, carton, laces, draw-cord, labels, hang-tags, price-tickets, stickers, gum-tape, scotch-tape, neck-board, backboard, poly, carton, PP-band, etc. Merchandiser should get an idea for each trim & accessories which need to produce a garment

3. Analyze product package: Merchandiser must carefully analyze the spec-sheet/product-package given by the Buyer. From the spec-sheet, he must list out all items that will be required to complete the garments, in addition, he must also find out which all are the items to be collected from in and abroad. He needs to identify what all are the items to be arranged by Air and Sea.

4. Listing out of nominated source/supplier: From the product, package merchandiser must list out all the items that have to be collected from their nominated source/supplier along with their declared prices. He must also know the production lead time and mode of shipment to find out transit time.

5. Listing out of all items requiring Lab-Test: In the garments business, many items has to undergo certain lab-test to ascertain the quality-standard of the garments vis-à-vis quality and purity of the merchandises. Many countries banned some of the chemicals, dye-stuffs, metals, etc for health hazard and carcinogenic reason. Merchandiser needs to know which test to be done where and when including test charges also.

6. Color and size break down: merchandiser must find out the quantity of the garments in both size and color as many of the items need to be booked and procured on the basis of size and color, for example… zipper, button, thread, pocketing, interlining. Fusing etc……..

7. Study the printing: Need to know printing type, size, number of colors, restriction on the use of chemicals, quality and the lab-test it has to undergo.

• Allover print.
• Screen print.
• Reactive print.
• Print with plastisol dye-stuffs.
• Discharge Print.
• Pigment print.
• Flock print.
• Foil print.
• Lurex print.
• Embossed print.
• Heat transfer print.
• Hi-density print.
• Dip-dye print.

08. Study the embroidery: Need to know the number of stitches, colors, type of thread required

• Plain embroidery with one color.
• Plain embroidery with multi-color.
• Embroidery with lurex thread.
• Embroidery on printing.
• Embroidery with Application.
• Embroidery with the application
• Embroidery with a laser-cut design.

09. Study the value-added work: Smart Merchandiser study the value-added works such as the setting of sequins,  Stones, Beads, Needlework's with colored/lurex threads.

10. Study Wash: Merchandiser should learn the different type of wash (eg, Garment wash, Acid wash, Bleach wash, stone wash, rubber ball wash, Acid wash,

11.Required Sample & Submission procedure.

a.                   Proto sample.

b.                  Pre-line sample

c.                   Counter sample.

d.                  Sealed/Red/Yellow label sample.

e.                   Size set sample.

f.                   Pre-production sample.

g.                  Lab-test sample.

h.                  Flammability test sample.

i.                    Photo Shoot sample.

j.                    Salesman sample.

k.                  Shipment sample.

12. Understand L/C: Merchandiser should be well known with the clauses of a Master LC & will

 Keep note master L/C received to date, garments value, total L/C value, Last shipment date, LC expiry date, as per for particular order. 

13. Production Planning: Know the production planning, allocation of production lines, pieces of production per day, an implication of Gant-Chart.

14. Time and Action Calendar: Prepare a ‘Time & Action Calendar’ to ensure in-house of all merchandises to ship the garments on time as per production plan.

15. Well understand Consumption & garment Costing to quote the price to a buyer

16. Required Skills on Sourcing & negotiation with customer & supplier

17. Keep updated records of Container charges (20 feet, 40 feet, 40 feet High Cube)

18.Know the world map and all sea and air routes, Sea and Air Freight Forwarder.

19. Check twice all mathematical equations 

20. Update your order status chart regularly

21. Don’t follow a work twice

22. Keep all the approval in your hand

23.Maintain good relation with all the departments & co-workers

24. Try to learn something new every day 

25.Good knowledge of the English Language in both written and spoken.

26.Know the email writing etiquettes & techniques.

27. Don't miss any email & make a habit of replying all emails within the shortest possible time.

28. Never do anything on assumption always get clarification & keep at least mail records for this

29. Always Prepare ‘’To Do’’ list of your entire job 

30. Take suggestion from your seniors for any new issue 

31. Always be sincere to his duty & responsibilities

32. Always show a positive attitude to resolve all problems.