Buying Intern

The Paper Store•Acton, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Buying Intern is responsible for supporting the Buying team across product selection, vendor partnerships, and business performance. This role is designed to provide hands-on exposure to how merchants think, plan, and drive results—connecting day-to-day execution with broader business outcomes. You will gain insight into how product decisions are made, how trends are identified, and how assortments translate into customer excitement and sales. The Buying Intern reports directly to the VP of Purchasing.

Requirements

A rising junior or senior pursuing a degree in Business, Fashion Merchandising, Retail, or a related field, or a recent graduate with a strong interest in buying and merchandising
Naturally curious about retail trends, product, and consumer behavior
Analytical and comfortable working with numbers, data, and Excel
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
A strong communicator who is comfortable working cross-functionally with teams and vendors
Excited to learn how product decisions are made and how they impact the business
Motivated to build a career in buying, merchandising, and product-driven retail environments

Responsibilities

Be a TPS brand ambassador
Support purchase order (PO) and SKU management, ensuring accuracy across systems
Partner with vendors to confirm shipments, verify costs and availability, and manage order follow-ups
Assist in building assortments, reorders, and product lists for promotional and seasonal initiatives
Prepare and maintain pricing and product information to support merchandising decisions
Build and organize materials for promotions, markdowns, and key business moments
Collaborate with stores and the distribution center to support product flow and resolve issues
Support merchandising execution, including product placement direction and seasonal planning
Partner with e-commerce and marketing teams to prepare product for online launches
Analyze sales performance (sell-through, turn, gross margin) and identify opportunities to improve results
Track promotional performance and contribute insights on product and customer trends
Assist in creating product presentations, collages, and materials for assortment reviews