Merchandising Assistant

Crate & Barrel; Northbrook (IL); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Crate & Barrel in Northbrook, IL seeks a Merchandising Assistant to support the Merchant teams with vendor partnerships, assortment planning and cross-functional execution. This on-site role (Mon-Thu) with optional remote Fridays collaborates across Marketing, Catalog and Merchandise Operations to drive margin and turnover goals.

You will help build and maintain assortment plans, communicate promotional details, analyze data for targeted recommendations and support cost negotiations and store

Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across all levels of the organization.
• Team-oriented with a collaborative mindset and cross-functional work experience.

Responsibilities

• Support Merchant team through vendor partnership and communication.
• Help build and maintain assortment plans and SKU counts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to execute assortment strategies.
• Work with Catalog/Marketing to execute in-season product assortment.
• Communicate promotional details to cross-functional partners.
• Provide SKU/assortment information to Merchandise Operations for input.
• Develop recommendations for assortment strategies based on research and analysis.
• Support negotiations on product costs, terms, and shipping/return issues.
• Investigate and handle field/store issues related to merchandising.

Skills

Detail orientation

Communication skills

Team player

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Merchant systems

Job description

Supports Divisional Merchant/Sr. Merchant and Merchant teams in developing and managing the product assortments, vendor partnerships and ongoing product category business. Works with cross-functional partners to execute the product assortment strategy in accordance with the sales, margin and turnover goals for the assigned product category.

This is an on-site position (Monday through Thursday) based out of our Northbrook, IL office with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

A day in the life as a Merchandising Assistant

• Support Merchant team through vendor partnership and communication
• Support Merchant team in building and maintaining assortment plans and SKU counts
• Support Merchant team by working with cross-functional partners to execute assortment strategies.
• Work with Catalog/Marketing team to execute in-season product assortment.
• Communicate promotional details to all cross-functional partners.
• Provide SKU/ assortment information to Merchandise Operations for input
• Develop recommendations for product assortment strategies, based on targeted research and analysis, to achieve specific margin objectives. Execute exit strategies as needed.
• Conduct competitive intelligence and use information to identify opportunities and challenges for in-season business and future seasons
• Support Merchant teams with negotiating product costs, terms, and shipping/return issues
• Support Merchant teams by investigating and handling field and/or store issues

What you’ll bring to the table…

• Strong detail orientation, organized, ability to multi-task
• Strong oral and written communication skills sufficient to communicate credibly and effectively at all levels of the organization
• Team player with a focus on collaboration
• Proficient learner of planning and Merchant systems
• Microsoft Office proficiency, including Microsoft Excel

We’d love to hear from you if you have…

• BA/BS preferred
• Previous experience in merchandising and/or related experience preferred