Need a little extra income this Christmas season? The National Association of Retail Merchandisers has hundreds of job postings. Their website, www.narms.com allows individuals to fill out an online profile and browse job listings in areas throughout the country, at no cost to the prospective employee. There are postings for merchandising, product demonstrations, mystery shoppers and service calls. I have utilized this site for over 12 years and have filled a variety of positions–from serving samples in Wal-Mart to playing the Easter Bunny in one of those adorable but super-hot full body costumes. Some jobs are one-time only opportunities, while others are ongoing projects. I have found the pay to be decent, handing out food samples for example was $80.00 for four hours, while the Easter Bunny gig paid $100.00 for three. I have also filled long-term positions merchandising high-end products in various department stores at an hourly rate of about $10. One of my favorite things about NARMS is I can choose to respond only to those postings that sound interesting to me and do not conflict with my family’s activities/plans.
Retail experience is a plus as is any merchandising experience. However, training and testing are available on the site for a fee. One caveat is many of the positions are offered as independent contractor jobs. This means employees must keep up with their own income to report for income tax purposes. The employers will not send W-2’s but they do send Form-1099’s. As an independent contractor, one is considered self-employed. One perk to being independently contracted is the potential to claim home office space as a tax deduction provided the required criteria is met. Check out the IRS (www.irs.gov) website for more information on possible deductions.
I started with NARMS to help ends meet when the children were younger. I keep going back to NARMS because the clients they represent are reputable, the pay is good, and I retain control of my schedule. For a busy wife and mother, that is important.
About Tracey Cagle
My God brought me out of a pit of my own creation and blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. I am a second wife to my high school sweetheart and mother of four. I work part-time for a market research company and full-time as chauffeur, chef, and cheerleader to the children. I am active in my church home, where I teach a women's Sunday school class and facilitate bible studies. I enjoy volunteering. I write children's stories and have been rejected by some of the most renowned publishing companies in America. My daughter tells me Dr. Seuss was rejected on 17 submissions so I still have a way to go.
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