Merchandise Consultant (Exhibitions)
Round Room Live
Southport, CTThis is a Freelance Job
Role Summary:
The Merchandise Consultant (Exhibitions) is responsible for advising on and supporting the development, execution, and optimization of merchandise programs for Round Room Live’s traveling and long-running exhibitions. This role is exhibition-first in mindset, focusing on permanent and semi-permanent retail environments, guest flow–driven purchasing behavior, and product strategies that evolve across the life of an exhibition.
The consultant will guide exhibition-specific merchandise planning, product development, and operational execution, ensuring that retail offerings enhance the guest journey while maximizing per-cap revenue and long-term profitability. This role works closely with exhibition creative, operations, venue partners, and IP stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Exhibition Merchandise Strategy
Advise on merchandise strategies designed specifically for exhibitions and immersive environments, rather than single-night events.
Recommend product assortments that align with exhibition themes, narrative flow, and guest dwell patterns.
Support the development of scalable retail strategies that can adapt across multiple cities and international venues.
Partner with exhibition creative teams and IP owners to ensure merchandise integrates seamlessly with the exhibition’s storytelling and visual language.
Product Development & Assortment Planning
Advise on exhibition-exclusive and location-specific product concepts.
Support long-lead product development planning aligned with exhibition timelines and opening schedules.
Recommend product tiering strategies (entry-level, core, premium, limited edition) suited to exhibition audiences.
Evaluate opportunities for rotating or refreshed product assortments to encourage repeat visitation and sustained revenue.
Revenue Optimization & Performance Analysis
Provide guidance on pricing architecture, margin targets, and per-cap revenue benchmarks for exhibitions.
Review sales performance data to identify opportunities to optimize product mix, pricing, and placement.
Advise on strategies to balance high-volume core items with premium and collectible-driven SKUs.
Operations & Logistics Advisory
Support planning for exhibition-based merchandise operations, including inventory forecasting, replenishment cycles, and storage considerations.
Advise on vendor selection, licensing compliance, production quality standards, and delivery timelines.
Coordinate with exhibition operations and venue partners to ensure efficient back-of-house workflows and retail setup.
On-Site Retail Experience
Provide best-practice guidance on exhibition retail layout, queue flow, visual merchandising, and guest experience.
Recommend staffing models and training standards tailored to exhibition environments.
Support operational consistency across cities while allowing for local market adaptation.
Marketing & Audience Engagement
Collaborate with marketing and exhibition teams to align merchandise moments with key campaign beats, openings, and special events.
Advise on limited-edition drops, city-specific exclusives, and time-bound offers to drive urgency.
Support integration with digital platforms, ticketing, and post-visit engagement where applicable.
Qualifications & Experience
5+ years of experience in merchandise management, preferably within exhibitions, museums, immersive attractions, or touring experiences.
Strong understanding of exhibition retail dynamics, guest behavior, and extended-run sales strategies.
Experience with licensed product development, vendor management, and quality control.
Proven ability to analyze sales data, forecast inventory needs, and optimize retail performance.
Experience working closely with IP owners, creative teams, and venue partners.
Familiarity with POS systems, inventory management tools, and exhibition retail reporting.
Willingness and ability to travel periodically to exhibition sites as needed.
Salary/Benefits
N/A- Contractor
Additional Information
Company Overview:
Round Room Live is a global live entertainment company specializing in touring exhibitions and immersive experiences. The company focuses on transforming iconic intellectual property into high-quality, technology-led exhibitions that are designed for long-term, multi-city runs and international touring. Each exhibition is tailored to the creative vision of the rights holder while delivering scalable, operationally efficient guest experiences across diverse markets.
Round Room Live’s exhibition portfolio includes world-class, museum-style and immersive experiences such as The F1 Exhibition, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, Tupac Shakur: Wake Me When I’m Free, and Mandela: The Official Exhibition, among others.
To apply, please submit your resume via BambooHR. Final candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references, which will only be contacted with prior notice.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Round Room Live is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Website:
