The difference between merchandisers in manufacturing companies and merchandisers in foreign trade companies and their work requirements

The merchandisers of production companies and merchandisers of foreign trade companies play an important role in the process of tracking foreign trade orders. Although they have the same goals, they have differences in specific responsibilities and required skills.

Similarities

• Documentation goals: Whether in a production company or a foreign trade company, merchandisers need to focus on foreign trade orders to ensure that goods are delivered on time, according to quality and quantity.
• Knowledge composition: Both need to have knowledge in foreign trade, customs, commodity inspection, transportation, insurance and other fields, as well as master product information and foreign language communication skills, and be proficient in using Word, Excel and other office offices software.
• Following Scope: The work content of both companies covers the early, middle and full journey.
• Merchandising essentials: Qualified merchandisers should have professional knowledge of commodities and be able to solve problems encountered during the production process, coordinate the interests of all parties, and deal with product quality issues.

Differences

• Company: Merchandisers in foreign trade companies deal with more diversified product types and settlement methods than merchandisers in production companies, and their contacts are also wider.
• Work focus: Merchandisers in production companies focus on production and ordering, focusing on product quality and quantity; merchandisers in foreign trade companies need to handle more types of matters.

Job requirements

Communication and coordination skills

Foreign trade merchandisers need to have strong communication skills to coordinate the relationship between customers and various departments within the company. Effective communication includes follow-up communication and urging communication.

Time management skills

An excellent foreign trade merchandiser should have efficient time management capabilities to ensure that orders are completed on time. This requires them to reasonably plan the time for each link and strictly monitor the implementation.

Product cognitive ability

Whether it is a manufacturing company or a foreign trade company, merchandisers must have a thorough understanding of the products they are responsible for, including production processes, specifications, performance, etc.

A clear mind

When faced with numerous orders, foreign trade merchandisers need to keep a clear mind, distinguish priorities, and avoid confusing order information.

Good working habits and attitude

Maintain a serious and meticulous work attitude and develop the habit of recording daily work for easy reference.

Exception event handling

Discover and solve problems in the order execution process in a timely manner, and select the appropriate person to report or handle the problem according to its severity.

Develop customers

Foreign trade merchandisers can develop new customers through a variety of channels, including but not limited to using online resources, search engines, chat tools, participating in exhibitions and government-organized talks, etc.

To sum up, whether you are a merchandiser in a production company or a merchandiser in a foreign trade company, you need to continuously improve your professional skills and service levels to adapt to the increasingly fierce market competition environment.