To begin a career in merchandising, you do not need a college degree or formal qualifications, though some coursework in marketing or visual design will set you ahead of other candidates. You may consider pursuing an entry-level merchandising assistant position, which will grant you skills and experience to transition into a role with more autonomy and authority. Once you feel comfortable with your responsibilities, you can start applying to retailers or other large companies to become a merchandiser. Another path available to you is to begin working as a stockroom associate in a retail store. This will allow you to gain experience working with suppliers and distributors to ensure products arrive to your store when needed, while avoiding over-accumulation of back stock or dead stock.