Assistant Merchant

MillerKnoll•Stamford, CT

19h

About The Position

At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime – from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built-to-last, and beautifully designed furnishings. Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Design Within Reach means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Design Within Reach to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone. About this opportunity: We are hiring an Assistant Merchant to join our Merchandising team. As an Assistant Merchant, you'll support our Merchandise team in the curation of a product assortment that represents the tenets of our brand while increasing sales and achieving profit goals. As an Assistant Merchant, you will report to the Senior Merchant for your assigned category. The role of the Assistant Merchant is to support the Senior Merchant in all aspects of product procurement, launch, and maintenance.

Requirements

Strong passion for modern design, furniture, and the home furnishings industry, with an interest in product storytelling and brand integrity
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly across internal teams and external partners
Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, with a proactive, solution‑oriented mindset
High attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and shifting priorities
Ability to exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and effectively manage up in a fast paced environment, prioritization is key!
Technically proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Dependable, punctual, and accountable, with a strong sense of ownership over responsibilities
1+ years of experience in merchandising, planning, or a related role within the design, retail, or home products industry

Responsibilities

Help manage vendor relationships acting as a primary contact for vendors and designers
Monitor Design Within Reach milestone dates and maintain the product pipeline calendar to ensure all deadlines are met, including SKU builds, product testing and compliance requirements, milestone meetings, and photo sample delivery.
Proof catalogs, website content, and advertising materials for accuracy, ensuring consistency in pricing, dimensions, and product specifications.
Review and troubleshoot product return claims, partnering with vendors to resolve issues and manage charge‑back documentation.
Coordinate communication between vendors and the Product Support team to resolve client concerns, collect detailed product information, and obtain supporting materials as needed.
Organize communication between Vendor and Product Support team to resolve client concerns, gather product information, and procure supporting materials
Help with monthly or quarterly product trainings
Create sales reports for vendor meetings and internal reviews
Approve Finance costing discrepancies with key cross functional partners
Maintain awareness of the competitive landscape, conducting and sharing quarterly market and trend analysis with internal stakeholders.
Work closely with key cross‑functional teams—including Digital, Marketing, Planning, Allocations, and Product Development/Sourcing—recognizing Merchandising as the central hub throughout the product pipeline.
Research, organize, and manage special projects as assigned, providing analytical and operational support to senior team members.