Styling Samples Lead & Operations Owner

ALO; Commerce (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ALO in Commerce, Texas is seeking a Samples Lead to own the samples/product closet and act as a product expert for the styling department, partnering with Studio Stylists, Web Production, Creative, Marketing, Production, and Merchandising to ensure assets reflect Alo's excellence.

You will lead end-to-end product tracking, budget decisions, vendor relationships, and cross-functional workflows while aligning with the Senior Director, Styling on seasonal plans and ensuring photoshoots run smoothly.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of related experience managing a sample/product closet, including vendor management or budget responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience setting or improving workflows and processes, not solely following existing ones.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable partnering with senior stakeholders across departments.
• Ability to navigate competing requests from multiple business partners and resolve independently, escalating only significant matters to senior management.
• Strong Excel skills required; experience building or managing tracking systems preferred.
• Knowledge of Adobe Bridge & Photoshop a plus.
• Fashion industry experience required.
• Organized, detail-orientated, and comfortable exercising independent judgment on day-to-day product decisions.
• Friendly and inspirational team player with a great attitude and positive mindset.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary samples/product partner to the Studio Stylists, ensuring the right product is in the right place for every studio shoot and fitting.
• Own the end-to-end product tracking system and standards used by Creative and Marketing teams; set and enforce product handling SLAs across departments.
• Forecast product needs across up to 8 concurrent seasons (men's, women's, accessories) and advise on timeline risk and mitigation.
• Represent the product function in seasonal go-to-market planning meetings, flagging risk and proposing solutions for availability constraints.
• Own the product budget: make purchasing and reorder decisions within delegated budget authority; evaluate, select, and negotiate rates and turnaround terms with laundry, steaming, and courier vendors.
• Manage product handover from Product Development to Creative Services, resolving competing requests from business partners independently and escalating only matters of significant business impact.
• Coordinate with Technical Design and Merchandising to borrow proto or fit pieces when necessary.
• Facilitate product borrowed between internal departments via a check-out/check-in system.
• Coordinate dates to ensure product is available for key meetings and shoots in advance of the meeting date.
• Document approved outfits and style notes.
• Direct the preparation and organization of product in shot list order for all ecommerce, digital marketing, social, and campaign photoshoots, including oversight of freelance/temp support during peak weeks.
• Own weekly product reporting to Creative and Marketing leadership.
• Maintain clear, proactive communication on product location and status at all times.
• Provide hanging assistance and, when necessary, assist on set by steaming and dressing talent in accordance with shot lists.
• Track ETAs, monitor change-log notes, and stay attentive to late adds and drops; ensure product is photoshoot-ready by coordinating laundry services and ordering replacements when needed.
• Serve as product expert, maintaining deep working knowledge of the entire product line.
• Independent judgment and decision-making on matters of significance, including budget and vendor decisions.
• Cross-functional relationship management with Creative, Marketing, Production, Merchandising, and outside vendors.
• Forecasting and planning across multiple concurrent seasons.
• Process ownership: ability to design, set, and enforce systems rather than solely follow them.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to adapt to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear, proactive communication with senior stakeholders.

Skills

Samples management

Vendor management

Budget management

Excel

Adobe Bridge

Photoshop

Fashion industry experience

Workflow optimization

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Adobe Bridge

Photoshop

Job description

ALO in Commerce, Texas is seeking a Samples Lead to own the samples/product closet and act as a product expert for the styling department, partnering with Studio Stylists, Web Production, Creative, Marketing, Production, and Merchandising to ensure assets reflect Alo's excellence.

You will lead end-to-end product tracking, budget decisions, vendor relationships, and cross-functional workflows while aligning with the Senior Director, Styling on seasonal plans and ensuring photoshoots run smoothly.