Buying Intern Spring 2027

The Paper Store, Inc.; Acton (MA); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The Paper Store, part of TPS Group Holdings, is seeking a Buying Intern to support the Merchandising team at our Acton, MA corporate office. You will gain hands-on experience in product selection, vendor partnerships, and how assortments translate into customer excitement and sales.

This internship offers exposure to PO management, pricing, and promotional planning, with mentoring from the VP of Merchandising and cross-functional collaboration with stores, distribution, and e-commerce teams.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled junior or senior or recent graduate with interest in buying and product-driven retail.
• Strong analytical skills and comfortable working with numbers and data.
• Proficient in Excel and in handling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Curious about retail trends, products, and consumer behavior.

Responsibilities

• Support PO and SKU management, ensuring accuracy across systems.
• Assist in building assortments, reorders, and product lists for promotions and seasonal initiatives.
• Prepare and maintain pricing and product information to support buying decisions.
• Analyze sales performance including sell-through, turn, and gross margin to identify opportunities.

Skills

Analytical

Excel

Attention to detail

Cross-functional communication

Education

Business, Fashion Merchandising, Retail or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: 0099 - Corporate - Acton, MA 01420, Position Type: Internship, Salary Range: $18.00 - $18.00 Hourly, 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.

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.