Buying Intern

The Paper Store; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site internship at Corporate Office

Job summary

The Paper Store is offering a Buying Intern internship at our Acton, MA corporate office. You will support the Buying team with product selection, vendor partnerships, and performance analysis to learn how merch decisions drive sales.

Ideal candidates are rising juniors/seniors or recent grads in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or Retail, with strong Excel skills and a passion for trends and consumer behavior. On-site position through December 2026 with holiday season involvement.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, or Retail, or a recent grad.
• Curious about retail trends and consumer behavior.
• Analytical with comfort using data and Excel.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to work in fast-paced retail environment.
• Proactive problem solver and good communicator.

Responsibilities

• Support PO and SKU management across systems.
• Assist in building assortments and product lists for promotions.
• Prepare pricing and product information for buying decisions.
• Analyze sales performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with stores, DC, e-commerce, and marketing for product launches.
• Create product presentations and materials for assortment reviews.

Skills

Excel

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Merchandising (in progress)

Job description

TPS Group Holdings, a family of brands including The Paper Store, Uncharted and Gifts & More, is all about transforming daily routines into joyful escapes that inspire and surprise. Our mission is to connect with every customer through carefully chosen products, immersive shopping experiences, and service that goes the extra mile, creating a space that sparks joy with every visit.

Position Overview: The Buying Intern is responsible for supporting the Buying team across product selection, vendor partnerships, and business performance. This role is designed to provide hands-on exposure to how merchants think, plan, and drive results, connecting day-to-day execution with broader business outcomes. You will gain insight into how product decisions are made, how trends are identified, and how assortments translate into customer excitement and sales.

The Buying Intern reports directly to the VP of Merchandising.

What You'll Do

• Be a TPS brand ambassador.
• Support purchase order (PO) and SKU management, ensuring accuracy across systems.
• Partner with vendors to confirm shipments, verify costs and availability, and manage order follow-ups.
• Assist in building assortments, reorders, and product lists for promotional and seasonal initiatives.
• Prepare and maintain pricing and product information to support buying decisions.
• Build and organize materials for promotions, markdowns, and key business moments.
• Collaborate with stores and the distribution center to support product flow and resolve issues.
• Support buying execution, including product placement direction and seasonal planning support.
• Partner with e-commerce and marketing teams to prepare product for online launches.
• Analyze sales performance, including sell-through, turn, and gross margin, and identify opportunities to improve results.
• Track promotional performance and contribute insights on product and customer trends.
• Assist in creating product presentations, collages, and materials for assortment reviews.

Who You Are

• A rising junior or senior pursuing a degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, Retail, or a related field, or a recent graduate with a strong interest in buying and product-driven retail.
• Naturally curious about retail trends, product, and consumer behavior.
• Analytical and comfortable working with numbers, data, and Excel.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Able to work in a fast-paced retail environment and pivot quickly as business needs change.
• A proactive problem solver who can identify issues, ask thoughtful questions, and help move work forward.
• A strong communicator who is comfortable working cross-functionally with teams and vendors.
• Excited to learn how product decisions are made and how they impact the business.
• Motivated to build a career in buying, merchandising, and product-driven retail environments.

Internship Requirements

• This internship is based at our Corporate Office in Acton, MA and requires working on-site throughout the duration of the program.
• This internship begins upon hire and continues through December 2026.
• Availability during the holiday season is required, as this is one of the most important and exciting periods for the Buying team and provides valuable exposure to seasonal planning, promotional activity, and retail execution.

TPS Group Holdings LLC is an equal-opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or any other classification protected by state, local or federal law.

This range reflects what the company reasonably expects to pay for this position at this location at the time of this posting.