Assistant Merchant

About the Role

The Assistant Merchant supports the Merchant team in achieving seasonal and financial objectives by contributing to assortment strategies and ensuring operational efficiency. This role collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, manages daily operational functions, and assists in product development and market research.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in developing seasonal assortments, including initial product selection, roadmap creation, and style set-up.
• Manage operational tasks, including order management, sample organization, meeting preparation, and data accuracy across all systems.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis, providing insights that inform product development and pricing strategies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Production, Planning, Design, eCommerce, Visual, Marketing) to ensure the successful execution of assortment strategies.
• Maintain style attribution, adoption, and updates, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
• Prepare and present hindsighting selling reports, highlighting opportunities for future season planning.
• Support product development by communicating tactical updates to the appropriate teams, including design, production, and sourcing.
• Track and manage order delivery and launch timing, reporting exceptions and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Partner with the planning team on seasonal financial plans, pricing, and item descriptions.
• Compile and distribute product knowledge to internal teams on a monthly or seasonal basis.
• Stay updated on trends and customer preferences to inform product selection and assortment decisions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Proficient in Excel and Google Suite.
• Experience with Retail Management Systems (RMS), BeProduct, or S5 is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Acute fashion sense with the ability to interpret market trends and customer preferences.
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of retail math to assess sales and performance.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage through conflict, problem-solve, and influence decisions effectively.
• Systems and technology-savvy, with a willingness to adapt to new tools and processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain data integrity across multiple tasks.
• Demonstrates strong visual taste level and awareness of current trends.
• Ability to defend and effectively communicate ideas and recommendations across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, retail merchandising, fashion merchandising, or a related field is preferred.