Merchandising Executive Trainee
Overview
Date Posted:
2/16/2016
Job Code:
392
Location:
Stage Stores Corporate Office Hires
Address:
2425 West Loop South
City:
Houston
State:
TX
Country:
United States of America
Category:
CORP - Merchandising – Buying
As a participant in the Stage Stores Executive Development Program, you will receive 12 weeks of general training in our merchandising division. Upon completion, you will begin a rotational program first as an Assistant Buyer followed by a rotation as an Allocation Analyst. After these two years, you work together with the company to determine the best long-term career track you want to follow. With a multitude of opportunities in Buying and Planning & Allocations, the career possibilities are endless!
Program start dates are: June 2016 and August 2016.
As an Assistant Buyer:
Objective: To support the Buyer in carrying out the day to day operations of the Merchandising division; to identify and develop new processes to maximize the efficiency of the buying process; to cultivate and maintain smooth relationships with vendors, including communication and payment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Gain an understanding of how Buyer and the Merchandise Planner projects all SOC components.
- Learn to identify and react quickly to key items, trends and slow sellers.
- Understand use of Promotional and Permanent Markdown Systems.
- Acquire knowledge and communicate with vendor community.
- Complete all required training as scheduled.
- Update weekly and seasonal recaps, best sellers, and key items recaps.
- Learn to correct/approve ad copy, follow-up with ad co-op, and recap ad results.
- Learn Merchandise Payable procedures and resolve problems in a timely, effective manner.
- Advertising: fills out pre-plan sheets; fact sheets; requests samples. Help to conceptualize and lay-out advertising.
- Work in partnership with buyer to reach product decisions and build product assortments.
- Follow up on samples with vendors, and distribute to the necessary supporting departments.
- Attend monthly meetings with Allocations to review incoming assortments.
- Follow up on incoming shipments and update office with changes.
- Communicate revisions of price, quantity and delivery dates to all departments (planner, allocator, and advertising).
- Support a collaborative, innovative and results-oriented environment with peers.
- Assist Buyers in projecting POS/PERM markdowns and input into the system. Show initiative and take ownership of own development.
As an Allocation Analyst:
Objective: Responsible for execution of store unit plans and assortments for fashion planning levels through allocation of product and the development of bottom up assortments, minimum presentation by store and distribution
of product on replenishment styles. Analyze store productivity by business on a regular basis to ensure the execution of corporate sales and inventory objectives.
of product on replenishment styles. Analyze store productivity by business on a regular basis to ensure the execution of corporate sales and inventory objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Execute store unit plans and assortments through allocation of product.
- Execute pre-packs, size curves, key item presentations, min and max allocation quantities by volume group, pre-allocations on initial season set-ups of product and pack by store orders.
- Adjust post market assortments to accommodate trending stores.
- Perform timely analysis on stock to sales and provide recommendations so future receipts can drive sales and bring resolution to individual store inventory issues.
- Participate in the development of bottom up unit assortments and minimum presentation plans for replenishment items.
- Maintain replenishment seasonality curves and execute season build orders.
- Own the monthly assortment meetings.
- Support Planner in routine analysis.
- Update ladder plans on an “as needed” basis.
- React to changes in allocations to resolve individual store issues.
- Maintain open lines of communication with vendors regarding purchase order shipment and tracking as well as availability issues.
- Support a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented environment with peers.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of Merchandising, Planning, and D.C.
- Achieve pre-distro rates and out of stock percentage guidelines.
Skill Requirements/Qualifications:
- 4-Year College Degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Previous Retail experience preferred
- Proficiency in Word and Excel.
- Effectively prioritize and manage time.
- Maintain a system of organization for the office.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills (clear and concise).
- Ability to negotiate.
- Perseverance (pursuance of work with energy, drive and a need to finish; never giving up before finishing, especially in the face of resistance or setback).
- Willingness to consult multiple resources to obtain answers.
- Effective oral presentation skills with well-prepared content and confident delivery.
- Multi-task efficiency.
