Merchandiser, Promotional Products

BDA • Woodinville, WA

3d • $81,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Merchandiser is responsible for the creative vision, design direction, and development of client product assortments. The role translates brand strategy and market trends into compelling, commercially viable products that align with each client’s identity and customer base. The Merchandiser owns the creative product lifecycle, from trend research and concept development through sourcing, sampling, and art execution, ensuring products are brand-right, innovative, and ready for market.

The role partners closely with Program Managers, creative teams, sourcing partners, vendors, and clients to develop product collections for recognized brands across fitness, beverage, sports, automotive, and lifestyle categories. It combines product strategy, retail insight, client presentations, creative problem-solving, and detailed execution. The position is based near BDA’s Woodinville, Washington office and requires onsite work four days per week.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in retail buying, product development, merchandising, or planning.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience initiating, recommending, and implementing merchandise strategies.
• Strong understanding of market intelligence and the ability to apply it.
• Understanding of retail and the service environment.
• Experience identifying and interpreting product trends.
• Experience analyzing and applying consumer data.
• Track record of building profitable assortment plans.
• Ability to influence cross-functional partners.
• Experience working with accounts or retail stores to deliver profitable and relevant assortments.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with cross-divisional leadership.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills.
• Must live within commuting distance of the Woodinville, Washington office and work onsite four days per week.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Buying, or Marketing, or an equivalent combination of work and experience.
• Custom cut-and-sew experience.
• Experience developing custom hard goods or soft goods.
• Smartsheet experience.
• PLM/Oracle experience.

Responsibilities

• Participate in assortment analysis meetings and contribute to pre-assortment strategy discussions.
• Develop deep knowledge of client guidelines, target audiences, and aesthetic standards, serving as a brand steward.
• Drive creative direction for graphics, embellishments, and packaging with internal design teams and external vendors.
• Ensure art assets, decoration methods, labeling, and product details align with brand standards.
• Present and explain product concepts and creative rationale to internal and external teams to influence decisions.
• Translate current and future trends into creative, market-relevant products.
• Negotiate, build, and source strategic, profitable product assortments.
• Select color standards within seasonal color stories.
• Review tech packs and lab dips for accuracy with the design team and communicate approvals.
• Attend fit reviews for pre-production and TOP samples and communicate approvals or requested updates.
• Ship development samples to clients for review and approval.
• Apply analytical and critical thinking to business decisions.
• Run weekly merchandise status calls with clients and internal work-in-progress meetings as needed.
• Share assortment productivity with accounts and internal partners.
• Oversee day-to-day product development activities to ensure on-time launches.
• Manage areas including compliance, quality, and operational metrics such as key vendor partners and product margin.
• Negotiate buying terms with suppliers, including price, quantity, quality, and delivery.
• Build and update product status trackers for internal and external stakeholders and manage the Assortment Plan document.

Benefits

• Robust paid time off.
• Vacation.
• Paid volunteer day.
• Holidays and summer Fridays.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• 401(k).
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Mental health and financial wellness programs.
• Professional development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed