Certificate in Retail Merchandising (Level 2)

The course

There is nothing worse than walking into a shop crammed with goods that are badly priced and in disarray. More often than not customers are tempted to turn tail immediately.

Retail customer service requires more than turning up for work each day to count the hours down.

The Certificate in Retail Merchandising, which is offered by The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand in conjunction with the New Zealand Retailers Association, offers training in retail services. The certificate is taught by distance education, so students can study after hours in their own homes. Workbooks take students through a step-by-step process incorporating practical work within the workplace. As part of their assessment, students are required to create their own displays.

The certificate is a stand-alone certificate made up of a total of four unit standards, including creation of displays using supplied materials, and learning about stock control procedures and the principles of buying and selling goods in a retail or distribution environment and methods of presenting goods for sale.

Students learn to create window displays, end-of-aisle displays, and other types of displays that will attract customers to purchase goods. They learn about maximising floor space and attracting customers.

The Certificate in Retail Merchandising is one of four certificates in the National Certificate in Retail (level 2) qualification. The other certificates cover customer relations, selling skills and retail business. The retail merchandising certificate costs $240. It is expected to take 100 to 120 hours to complete.

There are no entry requirements into the course, although students working in a retail environment are able to easily apply their learning to their work.

The graduate

Ruban Pillay
Senior showroom consultant
Plumbing World, Manukau

I started studying September last year and have now finished the retail merchandising certificate, along with the other three certificates that make up the national certificate in retail.

I spent about three or four hours a week on study, sometimes in the evenings and sometimes on Sundays at work if it was quiet.

The information was very relevant to my job. It gave me insights into the whole retail structure which was important for me because I was a plumber for 20 years and knew how to use the products - but there is a big difference between using the products and knowing how to sell.

I'm enjoying the customer services role and feel much more confident in it, now I've done the certificate. The retail merchandising taught me how to do an effective display. I found that really interesting. For my assessment I did a display on winter heating. I learned to use a theme and not just one product; the theme is really important.

Learning by distance worked really well for me. It meant I was learning while working in the environment which was valuable.

When I started I wasn't sure what some of the questions meant and I emailed the tutors and asked them to explain in layman terms. They answered by email with really good explanations and I had no trouble after that.

I think it is an excellent way to learn, because you can do it around your own time.

It is very worthwhile. I'd advise anyone in retail or trade to do it. It is particularly good for us at Plumbing World because the company pays for it.

The employer

Debbi Ritchie
HR advisor, training, health and safety
Plumbing World

The benefit of this course to Plumbing World is that we can promote this certificate as a training opportunity for all our employees in all areas of our business.

We place high value on training and development for all staff and have a commitment to making it achievable at all levels.

By offering this course as part of our training plan we hope that staff will see the opportunity available to them and take advantage of it. One of the selling points for us is that it is a nationally recognised certificate, with national qualifications.

It is valuable for their future career and there are opportunities to complete further qualifications if they would like to.

Ruban and other staff members that have completed the certificate have grown within their roles, gained confidence in dealing with customers and developed a valuable toolbox of skills to utilise in their daily jobs.

The qualification

Certificate in Retail Merchandising (Level 2)
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Freephone 0508 650 200
Starting wages: range from $9-$15 per hour