Associate Merchant

Comfrt

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Associate Merchant supports the Senior Merchant in driving the commercial performance of assigned categories across Comfrt’s omni-channel business. Working across Product, Merchandising, Planning, Finance, Marketing, eCommerce, Retail, International, and Operations, the role helps translate product strategy into commercially successful assortments. The work is analytical and execution-oriented, including assortment planning, sales and inventory analysis, buy recommendations, channel allocations, SKU setup, purchase order readiness, and launch execution. The role operates in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities can change quickly and decisions are based on customer insight and business performance. The Associate Merchant is expected to grow into a strong owner of assigned categories. Success includes building accurate, balanced assortments; making clear, data-backed buy and reorder recommendations; understanding sales, inventory, margin, and customer behavior; ensuring smooth handoffs from assortment approval through SKU setup and PO placement; and identifying sales and inventory opportunities. The role also requires strong launch readiness, cross-functional follow-through, and increasing independence in making recommendations and influencing decisions.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in Buying, Merchandising, Planning, or a related retail or eCommerce function.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into clear business recommendations.
Understanding of retail math, including sales, AUR, margin, sell-through, inventory turns, weeks of supply, and forecasting.
Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple categories, launches, and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working remotely, with strong time management, self-discipline, and the ability to independently manage schedules and deadlines.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.
Curiosity, proactivity, and willingness to investigate the business and take ownership.

Nice To Haves

Experience within apparel, accessories, home, lifestyle, or a high-growth consumer brand.
Commercial instinct combined with strong execution.
Ability to investigate product performance and use data to make recommendations rather than simply report numbers.
Comfort taking ownership, partnering across teams, asking questions, and following decisions through assortment planning, buy approval, PO placement, launch, and hindsight.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Senior Merchant and Product team to build and maintain seasonal and monthly assortment plans by category, collection, color, size, and channel.
Support line plans that balance core business, newness, seasonal programs, and innovation.
Maintain accurate assortment information and document styles, colors, pricing, launch dates, channels, and product positioning.
Identify assortment gaps, duplication, and opportunities using sales trends and customer demand.
Support assortment localization across eCommerce, Retail, International, Amazon, and emerging channels.
Support initial buy recommendations using sales history, forecasts, inventory position, launch expectations, and planned sell-through.
Prepare unit recommendations by style, color, size, and channel for review with the Senior Merchant, Product, Planning, and Finance.
Monitor inventory and recommend reorders, reductions, transfers, or exits based on performance.
Track incoming inventory against launch dates and identify inventory risks early.
Partner with Planning and Finance to understand open-to-buy, inventory investment, and the financial implications of recommendations.
Help translate approved buys accurately into SKU and PO requests.
Analyze category performance, including sales, units, AUR, sell-through, inventory, weeks of supply, margin, productivity by style and color, and channel performance.
Prepare weekly selling recaps and identify wins, misses, risks, and opportunities.
Analyze new-product performance against expectations and provide actionable recommendations.
Monitor core styles and recommend chase opportunities based on demand.
Support hindsight analysis to inform future assortment, pricing, color, and investment decisions.
Develop deep knowledge of assigned categories and proactively bring recommendations to the team.
Support the Senior Merchant in determining assortment and inventory strategies by channel.
Help build assortments for U.S. eCommerce, International, Retail, and emerging channels based on customer and business needs.
Track channel-specific buys and ensure allocations are accurately reflected in internal systems and POs.
Work with cross-functional teams to identify incremental unit needs when products expand into additional channels.
Support pricing and promotional analysis while protecting margin and brand positioning.
Partner with Product, Marketing, Creative, eCommerce, Planning, and Operations to prepare products for launch.
Maintain launch information, including product details, pricing, inventory, channel strategy, timing, and merchandising priorities.
Support product tiering and communicate which products may require greater marketing investment.
Identify inventory, timing, or assortment risks that could affect launch plans.
Participate in go-to-market meetings and document and complete merchandising actions and decisions.
Help position products appropriately on site and across channels according to inventory and commercial priorities.
Coordinate with Product and Buying Operations to ensure information required for SKU creation and PO placement is complete and accurate.
Validate style, color, size, cost, retail, quantities, delivery windows, and channel allocations before PO handoff.
Track outstanding approvals and information needed to meet PO placement deadlines.
Maintain attention to detail and traceability throughout the buying process.
Build partnerships across Product Development, Design, Planning, Finance, Production, Sourcing, Marketing, Creative, eCommerce, Operations, Retail, and International.
Work with Product to understand each product’s purpose, positioning, functionality, and customer.
Partner with Planning to connect assortment strategy with demand forecasts and inventory requirements, and with Finance to support sound inventory investments.
Communicate risks, changes, and opportunities early and clearly.