Assistant Merchant – Panties
Internship Reynoldsburg, USA Sales
Job description
Description
The Assistant Merchant supports in delivering financial volume expectations of the business. Acts as the Subject Matter Expert on various retail areas and topics, including, but not limited to, customer intimacy, competitive intelligence, testing execution, product/sample management, visual and comprehensive systems management. The Assistant Merchant supports the strategy of the merchandise assortment through seamless execution.
Responsibilities:
Strategy
Drive and execute client intimacy activities developed by the merchant, sharing insights with merchant leaders while making business recommendations
Provide product strategy recommendations by gathering competitive intelligence on current competition and trends
Assist in seasonal hindsight process through the ownership of color ranking and client insights
Customer
Be the voice of the customer through store travel for tests, market distortions, and new product launches.
Be in stores and/or on campus on a weekly basis to gain customer feedback and business insights
Understand the customers lifestyle by staying on top of trends, social media, and pop culture as it specifically relates to the VSL customer
Understand the Brand target customer by tracking and experiencing customer attitude and lifestyle and participating in selecting product that appeals to the customer’s taste
Engage in competitive patterning to understand the current competition/market trends and influence product strategy.
Product
Support the merchant/leader in delivering financial objectives and maximizing volume and profit by leveraging intuitive client insights when building seasonal strategies
Drive accuracy of product detail through excellent execution and management of assortment documentation and communication
Support marketing/visual strategy and sales education/store operations through consistency and accuracy in line lists, brand guides, sign requests, product information, and assortment details, reacting with urgency while comprehending overall strategy
Own the accuracy of samples as well as the physical samples for a book of business across multiple seasons.
Assist in key meeting prep with sample availability, deck preparation, and ad hoc requests and analysis, always staying agile and flexible
Manage product edits & inputs for multiple floorsets and seasons and by prioritizing tasks and balancing competing priorities.
Financial
Understand financial parameters and applications needed to drive results in a fashion retail business
Identify opportunities in regional and store performance in support of the merchant/leader; analyze detailed size and market trends and recommendations to impact a book of business
Collaboration
Cultivate and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships with clear and accurate communication
Constantly communicate with the Field to understand business results and report findings back to business.
Actively participate in weekly cross functional meetings and calls.
Consistently demonstrates open mindedness and free thinking when problem solving.
Regularly share customer insights and business recommendations in cross functional forums.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration or relevant area
1-2 years of experience in retail buying, 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.
Exceptional communication, prioritizing, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
Ability to be a team player and to foster a commitment to teamwork among other associates
Systems savvy
Demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking