Merchandise Consultant (Exhibitions)

This 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.