Job description
DESCRIPTION:
The Assistant Merchant supports the category of business by serving as the Subject Matter Expert on various retail areas and topics, including, but not limited to, comprehensive systems management, customer intimacy, competitive intelligence, testing execution and product/sample management. The Assistant Merchant supports the strategy of the merchandise assortment through seamless execution.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
System Management & Execution
- Drive accuracy of product detail through excellent execution and management of assortment documentation and communication, with emphasis on MAT tool execution
Customer
- Demonstrate an ability to turn Customer insight into actionable recommendations as it relates to assortment strategy
- Be the voice of the customer through store visits/travel, market distortions, and new product launches
- Be in or communicating with stores on a weekly basis to gain customer feedback and business insights
- Understand the customer’s lifestyle by staying on top of trends, social media, and pop culture as it specifically relates to the customer
- Utilize customer insights to support the evolution of the product to continue to build an emotional connection with the customer
- Engage in competitive patterning (i.e., focus groups, share of drawer, campus visits, etc.) in order to understand the current competition/market trends and influence product strategy while making business recommendations
Product
- Demonstrate an ability to turn product insight into actionable recommendations as it relates to assortment strategy and influence the evolution of potential new categories to fill customers’ needs
- Own the management of samples for a particular category, inclusive of ranking current business and representing current season, collaborating with Sample Management partners to ensure accuracy of current and archived sample needs
- Assist in key meeting prep with sample availability, style & color ranking, deck preparation, and ad hoc requests and analysis, always staying agile and flexible • Responsible for ongoing trend analysis and reporting, inclusive of competitive landscape & competitive patterning
Financial
- Learn the basic fundamentals of retail math, financial parameters and applications needed to drive category results
- Understand core financial reporting tools necessary to read and analyze business insights (i.e. Color report, placemats)
- Providing color and style level insights as to what is working and not working within the assortment
- Ranking product weekly based on sales performance
- Understanding and bringing attention to channel-specific selling nuances within the assortment
- Remain curious about category financials and performance while seeking to understand metrics in regards to product performance
Collaboration & Relationship-Building
- Cultivate and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships with clear and accurate communication while demonstrating company values
- Actively participate in weekly cross functional meetings and calls
- Relationship building by demonstrating corporate culture & values of inclusivity, open-mindedness, collaboration and positive intent
- Consistently react with urgency while comprehending overall strategy
Talent
- Identify and regularly meet with an internal mentor
- Partner with leader to curate a career development plan and own the execution of actions
- Actively seek and take action on feedback from all levels to enable growth and development in role
- Mentor and guide intern talent
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration, or relevant experience
- Demonstrate an understanding of current and upcoming trends relevant to the customer
- The individual is highly curious, and influences leadership through client and competitive patterning and makes tangible recommendations for the business.
- Ability to effectively manage through and deliver upon competing priorities, demonstrating change agility.
- Exceptional execution, communication, prioritizing, collaboration, and problem solving skills
- Ability to be a team player and to foster a commitment to teamwork among other associates
- Demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not make employment decisions based on an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, protected Veteran status or any other legally protected status, and we comply with all laws concerning non-discriminatory employment practices. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for associates and job applicants with disabilities. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.
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