Merchandise Assistant

University of Toronto Press; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Toronto Press is seeking a Campus Outfitters support role at the U T Bookstore. The role focuses on delivering excellent customer service, managing orders, data maintenance, and inventory control.

The position involves creating SKUs, processing orders, liaising with vendors, and assisting with new sales activities. The role requires physical capability and prior retail experience.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary graduate or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 2 years retail experience, customer service experience, or business development experience.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, physically demanding environment.
• Ability to lift/move (up to but not exclusive) 50 lbs

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with customers through open and interactive communication via phone, email, or in person.
• Provide accurate product information and quotes to customers in a timely manner.
• Proactively manage assigned client accounts and inquiries from intake to resolution.
• Respond to customer complaints and provide appropriate solutions and/or alternatives.
• Support Campus Outfitters Manager and Account Specialist with new sales activities.
• Communicate with Trademark & Licensing to ensure brand standards are being met through mockups.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Sales support

Inventory management

Data maintenance

Purchase orders

Education

Post-secondary graduate or equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Internal database

Website updates

Purchasing tools

Job description

Reports to: Account Specialist, Campus Outfitters

Division: Retail

Location: U of T Bookstore, St George Campus

What You’ll Be Doing:

You'll support the day-to-day activities for Campus Outfitters. The main focus of the role is to provide excellent customer service, ensure timely order progression, data maintenance and inventory management.

Hourly Rate: $22.00

This is a current vacancy within our organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Customer Service, Sales and Support

• Build relationships with customers through open and interactive communication via phone, email, or in person
• Provide accurate product information and quotes to customers in a timely manner
• Proactively manage assigned client accounts and inquiries from intake to resolution
• Respond to customer complaints and provide appropriate solutions and/or alternatives
• Support Campus Outfitters Manager and Account Specialist with new sales activities
• Communicate with Trademark & Licensing to ensure brand standards are being met through mockups
• Other related duties as assigned

Data Maintenance and Sales Processing

• Create new SKUs and update existing SKUs in internal database and on the website
• Create and submit purchase orders to external and internal vendors
• Create and process sales order and invoices
• Work with marketing and webs teams to set up, manage, and fulfill preorders
• Liaise with web orders to help fulfill custom made orders and answer any customer/team questions
• Organize and sort appropriate customer files, and order related data

Inventory Management

• Liaise with the receiving department to manage inbound goods and outbound product
• Follow up/track purchase orders through effective vendor communication
• Process returns to vendors for damaged/defective merchandise within a timely manner
• Liaise with the accounting department to ensure debits/inventory adjustments are completed by end of month
• Compile and communicate damages for write-offs with inventory adjusters
• Occasional lifting of product for order prep and storage organization

Education, Qualifications and Experience:

• Post-secondary graduate or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 2 years retail experience, customer service experience, or business development experience
• Comfortable working in a hands‑on, physically demanding environment
• Ability to lift/move/handle (up to but not exclusive) 50 lbs

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively
• Ability to apply judgements to unfamiliar situations by referencing existing processes and adapting as needed
• Provide high level of customer service
• Excellent professional communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced work environment
• Intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning — a growth mindset
• Values matter to you. You bring your whole self to work and you live our values to be the trusted collaborator, lead with intention and ingenuity, and empower many views and voices

About University of Toronto Press

The University of Toronto Press (UTP) is one of the largest university presses in North America, publishing landmark scholarship since 1901. Each year UTP releases over 250 new scholarly, course, and general interest books in print, audio and ebook formats, and over 80 journals. In addition, UTP manages the distribution for over 250 publishers and imprints in Canada, the US, and around the world, with warehouses in Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. UTP also runs the University of Toronto Bookstores across the three main campuses, serving over 100,000 students and 16,500 faculty.

As the leading university press in Canada and one of the largest in North America, we acknowledge our role and responsibility in effecting positive change. With this, we seek to continuously improve the diversity and representation of our publications and the clients we represent, as well as within the makeup of our organization. With strong commitment from leadership, we are collectively bringing forward change across the organization, both within our company culture and in our publishing, distribution, and retail endeavours. UTP operates with mutual trust, respect, and integrity as we strive to identify and remove barriers. We are committed to making UTP a great place to work by addressing and challenging systemic inequities.

The University of Toronto Press encourages applications from all qualified candidates. If you need accommodation at any stage of the application process or want more information on our accommodation policies, please contact the People Team at [phone].