Associate Merchant

Associate Merchant

As our Associate Merchant, you will be responsible for various functions which contribute to the broader scope of the vertical Merchant career path, gaining valuable hands-on experience in skill competency areas. Under direction of Manager Divisional Merchandise, you will be responsible for planning, developing, analyzing and managing assigned customer solutions. You will identify opportunities that meet the marketing and merchandising company objectives; providing merchandise assortment input that continually increases company revenues and profitability and achieving all assigned financial goals and objectives. This role will partner with other departmental teams including Merch Planning, Sourcing, Product Design, Marketing, E Commerce, Creative, Personalization, Inventory and Corporate Communications.

Essential Functions

• In conjunction with Manager Divisional Merchandise, manage customer solutions and build tops down merchandising plans by customer needs, market position/trends, historical product & category performance, business goals
• Under direction of manager, present, communicate and advocate strategic goals to cross functional departments and executive staff
• With direction of manager, develop analysis of brand/customer performance in order to proactively respond to the customer need and achieve company objectives
• Analyze market intelligence by means of supplier and industry contacts, merchandise shows and trade periodicals, and review of competitive retailers and direct marketers, and then strategizes with manager to benchmark current customer solutions against current market trends and pricing strategies
• Communicate assortment plans and financial objectives with Inventory to achieve all department and category inventory goals including fill rates, turn ratios, average days on backorder and Open-to-Buy (OTB) management, and Sourcing to achieve the best profitability for company
• Manage all vendor relationships and negotiates with Sourcing regarding COGS and rebate programs
• Establish pricing strategies and manages product price points for new items to maximize sell-through and profitability achieving all established margin objectives
• Partner with Product Design to identify upcoming trends within brands and customer segments to build product line and strengthen customer solution; approves all artwork and product specifications
• Partner with Sourcing to approve new item samples
• Partner with Creative to develop catalog pagination/mock-ups and content. Approves photography, headlines, front and back covers, and general page layout maintaining customer solution focus
• Under direction of manager, proofs in E-Book & Soft Proofing processes for overall presentation & content and makes necessary changes to remove and replace items in offers
• Partner with Marketing to develop contact strategy, budgets and promotions; communicates and reinforces customer solutions for all marketing decisions and reviews business cross-functionally on a quarterly basis
• Partner with Ecommerce to provide direction for web navigation, homepage rotations, landing pages, email campaigns, web content, social media networking and seasonal promotions
• Partner with Pricing Analyst to identify promo pricing opportunities within solutions and reviews assigned Departments to implement price changes as needed to maximize sell-through and profitability, achieving all established margin objectives
• Determine and execute item level flagging for each brand within their assigned solution(s)
• Develop alternatives to increase sales and extend sales performance while optimizing underperforming products by reducing or removing medias
• Develop and maintain (AS400, GUI) product specifications
• Ensures product line conforms to all legal/regulatory requirements and doesn't infringe on any copyright or trade dress standards
• Handle processing new item set-up within PIM
• Handle processing, confirming and coordinating changes or modifications with domestic suppliers
• Act as a community ambassador and partners with Corporate Communications and vendors on external brand awareness projects
• Participate fully in initiatives such as MAPS & PIM and provide training support to others
• Identify and manage talent/resources required to achieve goals
• Proactively leverage strengths and address development needs of Assistant Merchant. Serve as a coach and mentor
• Manage and supervise daily tasks of departmental Interns
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance
• Abides by all policies and procedures of Oriental Trading Company
• Must be able to attend face to face meetings on short or little advance notice
• Work requires in-person collaboration among colleagues and contractors

Marginal Functions

• Travel overseas and domestically as necessary
• Maintain an active US Passport
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned
• Assist with setting up and maintaining AS400 & GUI product specifications
• Develop and proposes process and procedural changes which will improve operation of the department

Here's What You Need To Join The Fun:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to analyze quantitative data
• Acute sense of brand, customer and trend awareness
• Achievement oriented and demonstrated leadership potential
• Exceptional ability to bridge and enhance cooperative working relationships, both internally and externally
• Ability to communicate, present, negotiate and influence appropriately to all levels of the organization
• Ability to lead team members toward personal, department and organizational goals
• Ability to drive focus, set priorities and remain flexible in an on-going changing environment
• Possess a proven track record of merchandising business management, success and growth
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Access
• Ability to perform the job in a safe manner

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Merchandising or Business or equivalent work experience is preferred

Experience

• Two to five years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred

Join us at Oriental Trading, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, where fun means business!

Oriental Trading Company ( is the nation's largest direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of teaching supplies and affordable home dcor and giftware. Founded in 1932 by a Japanese American, the Oriental Trading history of fun spans the better part of the last century. Today, Oriental Trading offers more than 60,000 products to individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and nonprofits. With a corporate vision to "Make Life More Fun," Oriental Trading (a Berkshire Hathaway company) spreads joy and smiles to millions each year through a robust family of brands; Oriental Trading, Fun Express, MindWare, SmileMakers, Morris Costumes and halloweenexpress.com.

EOE