web analytics

Medium Sized Family uses affiliate links. If you click a link, we could earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read more.

Share or Save This

Have you ever stared at the balance on a credit card and wished there was something you could do right now to get it paid off?  I know I have.

I can’t give you directions to a money tree (besides, if I find that puppy I’m keeping it to myself!).  But I can do the next best thing.  Let’s talk about retail merchandising and how the flexibility of this job might make it the right side hustle for you.

Working Part Time as a Retail Merchandiser

How to Get Odd Jobs in Retail Merchandising. Here's a flexible way to earn extra income when you are strapped for cash.

What is Retail Merchandising?

First of all, let’s talk about what retail merchandising is.  People who take jobs in retail merchandising are the go-betweens who connect companies who market products with the stores that sell them.  On a retail merchandising job, you might do things such as:

  • bring boxes from the back of the store to stock products on the shelves
  • remove old products and return them to the back of the store
  • put up any advertising or additional information
  • arrange things attractively and cleanly
  • other similar tasks

Pros

Flexibility

Now, if you can find the right job, you’ll have one that offers a good amount of flexibility.  Often, rather than having a set time to do the work, there’s a due date.  The flexibility of this work is perfect for people who already have a job or have children and need to exchange caring for them with someone else.

Be aware that some jobs are more flexible than others.  Read through the entire job description before you apply to be sure it’s the right fit.  If you can’t find anything, keep looking.  More flexible work will come available at some point.

New Experiences

If you don’t work in retail or you have a stressful job, this work can be a nice change of pace.  You’ll be surrounded by customers while you do the work, but you aren’t selling to them.  That makes this job a better option for more introverted people.

Cons

Not Reliable Work

When you find a good job, you’ll have to share the work with others.  If the company offers a website where they put up jobs, you’ll need to be first in line to grab the ones that fit your schedule the best.

Can Be Tough to Find

It might take some time to find a job that is flexible and local to you.  Keep looking.  Ultimately you’re doing this job to fund a savings account rather than putting food on the table.  So be patient while you wait for the right fit.

Requirements:

Not all jobs have the same requirements, so always read the job listing carefully before you apply.  Requirements often include:

  • Be able to lift heavy boxes.  Bending and reaching overhead is necessary for shelving.
  • Have a smartphone or tablet with Wifi access.
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Be a self starter (You won’t have a boss breathing down your neck, but if you can’t get the work done without that kind of accountability, you probably won’t get many jobs.)

How to Find Work

Finally, let’s talk about how to find these jobs.  You can do a search for “part time merchandiser”.  Some places I found these jobs include Craigslist and Jobing.com (you search by city similar to Craigslist).

Lawrence Merchandising is a company that hires merchandisers around the country.  You can also try American Greetings.  Google is your friend, and every area will be different.  Consider the big stores and companies located near you.

Take These Steps:

  1. Determine if retail merchandising is right for you.
  2. Apply for jobs that are a good match.
  3. Show up ready to do your best work.
  4. Save the money in your account.

This was day 18 in the Secure Your Savings and Find Peace in the New Year series.  Go to the bottom of this post to find all the money saving and money making posts in this series!

Give retail merchandising a try to see if it’s a good fit for a part time gig.

Stop wishing you had the money to cover your bills, and work for it instead!

Have you ever worked in retail merchandising?  Tell us about your experience!