Details Report for:
11-9199.05 - Online Merchants
Plan, direct, or coordinate retail activities of businesses operating online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Interests | Work Values | Education | Wages & Employment
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Calculate revenue, sales, and expenses, using financial accounting or spreadsheet software.
- Compose descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping websites.
- Prepare or organize online storefront marketing material, including product descriptions or subject lines, optimizing content to search engine criteria.
- Purchase new or used items from online or physical sources for resale via retail or auction web site.
- Receive and process payments from customers, using electronic transaction services.
- Calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers.
- Compose images of products, using video and still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo and video editing software.
- Correspond with online customers via electronic mail, telephone, or other electronic messaging to address questions and complaints about products, policies, or shipping methods.
- Design customer interface of online storefront, using web programming and e-commerce software.
- Determine location for product listings to maximize exposure to online traffic.
- Develop and revise business plans for online business, emphasizing factors such as product line, pricing, inventory, and marketing strategy.
- Devise, select, or purchase domain name and web address.
- Implement security practices to preserve assets, minimize liabilities, or ensure customer privacy, using parallel servers, hardware redundancy, fail-safe technology, information encryption, or firewalls.
- Initiate online auctions through auction hosting sites or auction management software.
- Investigate products and markets to determine areas for opportunity and viability for merchandising specific products, using online and offline sources.
- Investigate sources, such as auctions, estate sales, liquidators, wholesalers, and trade shows for new items, used items, or collectibles.
- Measure and analyze website usage data to maximize search engine returns or refine customer interfaces.
- Fill customer orders by packaging sold items and documentation for direct shipping or by transferring order to manufacturer or third-party distributor.
- Promote products in online communities through weblog or discussion-forum postings, e-mail marketing programs, or online advertising.
- Select and purchase technical web services, such as web hosting services, online merchant accounts, shopping cart software, payment gateway software, and spyware.
- Transfer digital media, such as music, video, and software, to customers via the Internet.
- Cancel orders based on customer requests or inventory or delivery problems.
- Collaborate with search engine shopping specialists to place marketing content in desired online locations.
- Create and distribute offline promotional material, such as brochures, pamphlets, business cards, stationary, and signage.
- Create and maintain database of customer accounts.
- Create, manage, and automate orders and invoices using order management and invoicing software.
- Deliver e-mail confirmation of completed transactions and shipment.
- Determine and set product prices.
- Disclose merchant information and terms and policies of transactions in online and offline materials.
- Integrate online retailing strategy with physical and catalogue retailing operations.
- Maintain inventory of shipping supplies, such as boxes, labels, tape, bubble wrap, loose packing materials, and tape guns.
- Order or purchase merchandise to maintain optimal inventory levels.
- Participate in online forums and conferences to stay abreast of online retailing trends, techniques, and security threats.
- Upload digital media, such as photos, video, or scanned images to online storefront, auction sites, or other shopping websites.
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
 Occupational Interest |
Interest |
|
|---|---|---|
100   |
Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. | |
| 78 |
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. | |
| 50 |
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. | |
| 22 |
Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. | |
| 11 |
Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. | |
| 6 |
Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. | |
Work Values Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Extent |
Work Value |
|
|---|---|---|
| 67 |
Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
| 61 |
Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
| 50 |
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
| 50 |
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
| 45 |
Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
| 33 |
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
Education
Education data collected from Managers, All Other.
Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Attained |
|---|---|
| 55 |
Bachelor's degree or higher |
| 27 |
Some college |
| 17 |
High school or less |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
survey of employees aged 25-44.
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Managers, All Other.
Employment data collected from Managers, All Other.
| Category | Occupation Information |
|---|---|
| Median wages (2008) | $43.38 hourly, $90,230 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 870,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 233,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.