var merch = document.getElementById('merch');

<td>

var merch = document.getElementById('merch');

// this will give you a HTMLCollection
var rows = merch.rows;

// this will change the HTMLCollection to an Array
var rows = [].slice.call(merch.rows);

// if you want the elements in the array be string.
// map the array, get the innerHTML propery.
var rows = [].slice.call(merch.rows).map(function(el) {
    return el.innerHTML;
});

<table id="iterateOverThisTable">
  <tr>
    <td>One</td>
    <td>Two</td>
    <td>Three</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>One</td>
    <td>Two</td>
    <td>Three</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>One</td>
    <td>Two</td>
    <td>Three</td>
  </tr>
</table>

$(function() {
  var rows = [];

  $("#tableToIterateOver tr").each(function() {
    var = cells = [];

    $(this).find('td').each(function() {
      cells.push($(this).text());
    });

    rows.push(cells);
  });
})