Associate Merchant, Wallflowers

Job description

Description

The Associate Merchant is responsible for supporting the execution of the creative product development, maintaining seasonal line plans and executing testing strategies for specific categories. They will support in the delivery of sales and profit growth by helping manage the commercialization of new product launches, analyzing consumer insights to help drive key brand and/or strategic initiatives and supporting in-store product launches.

 

Specifically, this position will:

·  Work alongside Senior/Merchant on growth-driving brand strategy and planning, including new product development, pricing, promotions / sampling, internal associate education and training, competitive patterning, performance analysis and hind-sighting
·  Support the creation of internal presentations to executives and cross-functional teams, from concept brainstorming to drafting documents to preparing meeting materials
·  Responsible for accurately coordinating new development projects, including process paperwork (e.g. Project Initiation Forms, Design Requests, Product Briefs for all products, sampling and gift sets), Costing Analysis and managing communication flow to cross-functional team members
·  Seek alignment on product description, claims, and aesthetics with partners
·  Collaborate with Commercialization Services to monitor timelines, anticipate / communicate issues and drive meeting milestone dates on time
·  Supports the Merchant in developing a line plan that represents the Brand and is aligned with the seasonal merchandise strategy
·  Analyzes data in weekly business meetings to share result driving insights, customer feedback, and in-store merchandising opportunities
·  Seen as the category expert and "go to" person by their cross-functional partners
·  Support in meeting preparation, sample management, report evaluation and analysis and share their POV and recommendations based on current results and category strategy
·  Become the expert in competitive intelligence: understanding other retailer’s assortment, pricing and promotional strategy
·  Visit stores regularly to proactively solicit feedback from customers and sales associates

 

Qualifications

·  3-5 years of related work experience  in brand development, merchandise buying and/or retail management
·  Capability to take direction under moderate supervision
·  Experience patterning competitors and the marketplace, sees the opportunities, and ability to make recommendations for new ideas
·  Ability to multi-task and prioritize deliverable
·  Broad-based business acumen with analytical and retail math skills
·  Demonstrate a passion for product and customer satisfaction
·  Be a self-starter and work independently producing accurate work
·  Ability to manage through conflict, problem-solve and build a cohesive team
·  Exceptional ability to enhance cooperative working relationships
·  Able to multi-task and prioritize with a strong sense of urgency and handle the stress that comes with working in a fast-paced work environment
·  Systems and computer proficiency (MS Office-Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel)
·  Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience 
An equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in hiring or terms and conditions of employment because of an individual's race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected category recognized by state, federal or local laws. We only hire individuals authorized for employment in the United States.