|
See our International
Retailing website for more information
The Merchandising Management major is challenging
and includes a broad range of possibilities for an exciting
future. The marketing of products and services through pricing,
promotion, and distribution is a function of merchandise
buyers and managers. A primary responsibility within this
profession is forecasting and planning for constant change
in trends, styles, and attitudes. However, careers are not
restricted to buying, management, and merchandising. Merchandising
management students also have successful careers in advertising,
public relations, personnel management, and marketing research.
The retail industry is diverse and
complex. It consists of department and specialty stores;
hardware and business supply stores; drug, travel, health,
and beauty services; convenience, variety, and grocery
stores; automobile dealerships; furniture stores; and
music/video stores, among others. Business size can range
from the single employee entrepreneur to the international
mass merchandiser with thousands of employees.
For detailed information on
couses, refer to the Description
of Courses catalog available from the Office
of the Registrar online or at 1 (517) 355-3300.
The Merchandising Management curriculum:
- Encompasses all sectors of the
retail industry, beginning with an overview of retailing
and ending with a senior seminar on industry analysis
and current retailing topics.
- Employs state-of-the-art technology
for computer simulations of buying and inventory planning.
- Links theories to consumers' actions
and responses to promotional strategies.
- Integrates human resources with
training, evaluation and supervision techniques.
- Evaluates problems and management
strategies for small business owners.
- Provides international perspectives
on merchandise procurement and distribution systems
in foreign countries.
- Incorporates course work from
marketing, management, economics, computer science,
accounting, statistics and law for an all-inclusive
program.
- Offers an optional internship
program to provide a wide range of exposure to actual
retail work situations including retail buying, product
development and store management.
The curriculum also provides preparation
for those interested in pursuing graduate study in merchandising
management or related fields.
Merchandising Management provides
career opportunities in a variety of positions.
- Merchandise Buyer/Assistant Buyer
- Catalog Manager
- Customer Service Representative
- Franchiser/Franchisee
- Product/Manufacturer Sales Representative
- Market Researcher
- Key Account Executive
- Merchandise Coordinator
- Personnel Manager
- Public Relations Director
- Merchandise Planner/Analyst
- Product Developer
- Sales, Department, or Store Manager
- Merchandiser
- Product Allocator
|
|
