Business, Commerce and Management Studies Generic Management

Evaluate Assess And Apply Merchandising And Marketing Practices Training

SAQA US 115820 | NQF 5 | Credits 8 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the skills to evaluate, assess, and apply merchandising and marketing practices within a retail or corporate environment. Participants will learn to analyze market trends, develop effective merchandising strategies, and implement marketing practices that align with organizational goals. The course focuses on practical application to enhance product visibility, customer engagement, and sales performance.

Learning Outcomes

  • Evaluate current merchandising and marketing practices against industry standards and organizational objectives.
  • Analyze market trends and consumer behavior to inform merchandising and marketing decisions.
  • Apply appropriate merchandising techniques to optimize product placement and visual appeal.
  • Implement integrated marketing campaigns that align with brand identity and target audience needs.
  • Assess the effectiveness of merchandising and marketing strategies using relevant metrics and feedback.
  • Demonstrate compliance with legal, ethical, and organizational requirements in merchandising and marketing activities.

Target Audience

This course is designed for retail managers, marketing coordinators, merchandisers, and sales professionals who are responsible for planning and executing merchandising and marketing activities. It is also suitable for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to improve their product presentation and market reach.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Merchandising and Marketing

Objectives:
• Understand the role of merchandising and marketing in retail and business contexts.
• Identify key concepts: target market, product mix, pricing strategies, and promotional tools.
• Differentiate between merchandise planning and marketing planning.
• Recognise the impact of consumer behaviour on merchandising decisions.

Topics:
• Introduction to merchandising and marketing practices
• The retail marketing mix: product, price, place, promotion
• Understanding target markets and customer segmentation
• Overview of merchandise planning and assortment
• Basic pricing strategies and their objectives
• Introduction to promotional mix: advertising, sales promotion, public relations

Day 2: Evaluating Marketing and Merchandising Strategies

Objectives:
• Analyse marketing strategies using SWOT and PESTLE frameworks.
• Evaluate merchandising tactics such as visual merchandising and space management.
• Assess the effectiveness of promotional campaigns.
• Interpret sales data to inform merchandising decisions.

Topics:
• SWOT and PESTLE analysis for retail environments
• Visual merchandising principles and store layout
• Category management and product placement
• Evaluating promotional effectiveness: ROI and KPIs
• Using sales data for assortment planning
• Case studies: successful and unsuccessful merchandising strategies

Day 3: Applying Marketing Practices to Drive Sales

Objectives:
• Develop a marketing plan aligned with business objectives.
• Apply integrated marketing communication (IMC) techniques.
• Implement digital marketing tools: social media, email, and e-commerce.
• Create promotional calendars and budget allocations.

Topics:
• Steps in developing a marketing plan
• Integrated marketing communication (IMC) strategies
• Digital marketing for retailers: SEO, SEM, social media
• Email marketing and customer relationship management (CRM)
• Budgeting for marketing activities
• Promotional calendar creation

Day 4: Applying Merchandising Practices to Optimise Product Performance

Objectives:
• Implement merchandise planning cycles: buying, pricing, and replenishment.
• Apply markdown optimisation and inventory management techniques.
• Use planograms and space allocation to maximise sales.
• Evaluate supplier and vendor performance.

Topics:
• Merchandise buying and assortment planning
• Inventory management: stock turns, fill rates, and safety stock
• Pricing strategies: markdowns, promotions, and dynamic pricing
• Planogram design and implementation
• Supplier negotiation and performance evaluation
• Technology in merchandising: ERP and retail analytics

Day 5: Integration, Assessment, and Application

Objectives:
• Synthesise merchandising and marketing practices into a cohesive strategy.
• Present a comprehensive plan for a retail scenario.
• Apply unit standard outcomes to real-world case studies.
• Complete formative and summative assessments.

Topics:
• Integrating marketing and merchandising for competitive advantage
• Case study: developing a go-to-market strategy
• Ethical and legal considerations in retail practices
• Review of unit standard 115820 outcomes
• Practical assessment: plan presentation and feedback
• Summative assessment: written test and portfolio submission

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
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Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Fri 21 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
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Mon 22 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
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Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
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Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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