Associate Merchant
Job Description
We create innovative products and services that enrich people’s lives every day. We’re privately held, committed to the communities we call home and guided by a set of beliefs and values that make us proud to be called "Hallmarkers".Hallmark Home & Gifts is an exciting start-up within Hallmark, creating and selling multiple brands in the home décor and gifts product categories. Hallmark Home and Gifts is an entrepreneurial, fast paced, merchant-organization. It is a high growth area for the company where the days are varied and new products are constantly being developed. It takes all of us to make it happen – and we’re looking for the Associate Merchant whose personal leadership skills are as strong as their merchant skills, the one that everyone wants to work with because they are just.that.good.
The Associate Merchant (aka Associate Product Manager internally) is at the center of our organization’s business model, leading a highly collaborative team of internal and external partners to develop the right product assortments and get them to market.
Do these traits describe you? (If so, you should really apply for this role…)
a jack-of-all-trades not because they have to do it all, but because they need to effectively get work done through so many others
strong-ability to connect the dots on all trends in the marketplace to then translate them into strong product lines and brands
passionate, curious, driven and highly agile
holds themselves and others accountable to a high level of performance
This is how an Associate Merchant spends their day:
Translate marketplace trends into brand-specific, business plans to achieve sales and profit plans.
Analyze business trends and identifying business opportunities and risks; analyzes prior sales performance, market trend and competitive landscape research as input. Expected to shop market and competition at least on a monthly basis.
Build product assortments using line planning tool, with analysis of trends, prior sales, inventory levels, product cost, etc. as input. This is an iterative and highly collaborative merchant led process with multiple cross-functional partners.
Partner with creative teams to develop products that meet both business and brand objectives.
Travel required, with possibility of international travel.
Work with planning and finance teams on management of sales, margin and inventory.
Communicate with external partners abroad throughout the product development cycle – managing the schedule, price negotiations, sample status and more.
Lead end-to-end execution teams and facilitate the full scope of product delivery – including procurement, packaging, catalog and logistics.
Act as the primary contact for all information gathering, sharing and inputting, with keen focus on accuracy and completeness of information. Attention to detail in the face of multiple, fast-paced change is a must.
Support selling objectives specific to program distribution strategy – such as ensuring the trade show booth, selling sheets, catalog are all created to maximize brand performance. Participate as needed in sales presentations, at trade shows, with sales rep groups.
Still curious? Check-out our products:
Easy, Tiger Floor | 9 Plum & Punch Hallmark Home
Requirements:
To be considered an applicant for this position you must show how you meet the basic qualifications of the job in a resume or document you upload, or by completing the work experience and education application fields. Accepted file types are Microsoft Word (DOC or DOCX), PDF, HTML, or TXT. Individual file size attachment limit is 10 MB.
In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Hallmark Cards, Inc. and its subsidiary companies will hire only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Hallmark does not generally provide sponsorship for employment. Employment by Hallmark is contingent upon the signing of the Employment Agreement, signing of an agreement to arbitrate in connection with the Hallmark Dispute Resolution Program, completing Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification and satisfactory reference and background checks.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree
2+ years’ experience as an Assistant/Associate Merchant, Buyer or Product Development
Professional experience with Excel and PowerPoint
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Willing and available to travel
Must possess basic knowledge of production and product development, specifically in the gift or home decor industry
Goal oriented, entrepreneurial self-starter who thrives in a startup atmosphere
Exceptional organizational skills, able to manage multiple competing priorities
Must be proactive, detail oriented, and possess the ability to meet tight deadlines
High degree of flexibility and initiative
Strong business and financial acumen, backed by strong analytic skills and ability to build recommendations based on data
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including effectively communicating with diverse, cross-functional audiences, able to influence and negotiate
Strong collaboration and team skills, bringing an end-to-end business mindset and approach to getting results
Stays ahead of trends (marketplace, product, economic, social, etc) and retail industry developments
Strong learning agility, ability to adapt quickly to new information, processes and inputs and successfully work through ambiguity
Highly self-motivated with a strong sense of personal accountability
Able to work in a fast-paced, often changing environment and can effectively shift between strategic thinking and executing work
High level of professionalism
Hallmark is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, pregnancy, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other legally-protected status. Principals only please.
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