Danielle Sherrer

Danielle Sherrer ‘16

Assistant Merchandiser, Cabinets & Appliances, Menards

Fashion meets business

Danielle Sherrer, ’16, always loved fashion but was particularly intrigued by many aspects of business, including planning and promotion. Mount Mary University’s merchandise management program offers insight into trend analysis, product development and marketing that can be applied to areas beyond apparel (think groceries, home goods and hardware), both in-store and direct to consumer.

Although she considered a career at a fashionable department store, Danielle’s merchandise management degree offered opportunities beyond apparel. She chose Menards, where she works in the general office as assistant merchandiser in the cabinets and appliances department.

Courses go beyond classroom experience

“I really enjoyed my classes at Mount Mary,” she said. “Courses were intriguing and instructors offered great real-life examples.” Class work involving Plan-O-Grams (visual representations of a store’s products on display) helped her identify and shape her career. Her introduction to AutoCAD (a commercial computer-aided design and drafting program) prepared her for the work she does today.

Her Fashion Show Coordination class and hands on work to execute the CREO Fashion Show taught Danielle the importance of clear communication and follow-up, skills she uses every day on the job as she collaborates with her current team. Mount Mary’s small class sizes and supportive environment helped instill the confidence she relied on as she launched her career. 

Collaboration drives her

On the job, Danielle loves the energy her “amazing team” delivers at work every day. She’s proud of her team’s collaborative initiatives and the positive impact they make on her department and on Menards as a whole. Creating compelling signage and enticing point of purchase displays are daily tasks that help compound sales.

Advice from Danielle Scherrer

“Keep an open mind because you never know where your education and experience will take you. There are so many options and career paths that apply to Merchandise Management, not just fashion.”