Category Merchandising Associate — Launch & Assortment Specialist

Gardner--white-Furnitur; Bloomfield Hills (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Gardner White Furniture is seeking an Associate Category Manager to join our Merchandising team. This role supports assortment planning, vendor management, product development, and merchandising initiatives to bring new products from concept to showroom floor.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, E-Commerce, Inventory, and Store Operations to ensure accurate launches, strong sales, and an exceptional customer experience, while developing market insights from trends and data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Interior Design, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• 1-3 years of merchandising, retail buying, product development, or related experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for home furnishings and design trends.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and management of assortments within assigned merchandise categories.
• Collaborate with merchandising leadership on opportunities, trends, and growth initiatives.
• Participate in vendor meetings to review new product introductions and pricing trends.
• Coordinate product launches from purchase through in-store and online execution.
• Partner with Marketing, E-Commerce, Inventory, and Store Operations to ensure accurate launches.
• Manage product setup for the website, including specifications, photography, descriptions, pricing, and attributes.
• Assist in developing product knowledge materials and coordinate sales training with vendors.
• Analyze sales performance, inventory levels, margins, and product lifecycle data.
• Assist with showroom floor planning, collection placement, and seasonal resets.
• Monitor customer trends, competitive activity, and market insights to support assortments.
• Maintain vendor records and purchase documentation.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Gardner White Furniture is seeking an Associate Category Manager to join our Merchandising team. This role supports assortment planning, vendor management, product development, and merchandising initiatives to bring new products from concept to showroom floor.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, E-Commerce, Inventory, and Store Operations to ensure accurate launches, strong sales, and an exceptional customer experience, while developing market insights from trends and data.