Assistant Merchant - Footwear Category
Top Benefits
About the role
About MEC
At MEC, we believe the transformative power of the outdoors makes us better humans and drives us to do good for the planet. We are here to inspire and support everyone in getting active outside, matching people with gear and advice that instills confidence. We offer more than products; we offer passion for the outdoors. We play with purpose!
Our business model is dependent on impassioned and well-trained outdoor enthusiasts and as such we look for individuals who live our purpose and fit with MEC ethos and lifestyle. If you are that person, we’d love to connect with you. Join us!
MEC is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building an inclusive community of staffers. We’re proud to work with our people to create a diverse workplace, where everyone feels like they belong and has the opportunity to be successful. We welcome of all applicants to join our diverse team. Tell us what you need during the hiring process, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
The Role
We recently had a promotion within the team and looking to add an Assistant Merchant. This role will be supporting the Category Merchandising Manager within the Footwear Category in executing category strategies, managing assortments, and driving sales and margin performance. This role manages a smaller product portfolio within the Footwear category, contributing to assortment planning, sales analysis, and vendor coordination. The Assistant Merchant helps build assortments, manage purchase orders, and maintain product data while ensuring accurate reporting and operational execution. Through data analysis and collaboration with internal teams and vendors, the role supports delivering the right product mix to meet customer needs and category goals.
**Location:**This a 2 day a week hybrid in-office role, base out of MEC's Support Office in Vancouver.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Manage a smaller buying portfolio within a large buying category, delivering the sales and profits as targeted, working in tandem with Senior Merchant on the larger category their portfolio rolls up into.
- Conduct item level assortment analysis and determine assortment decisions, including coverage of needs analysis for priority sub-categories, vendor optimization, SKU optimization, price ladders, brand strategy and development.
- Working to build assortments in JustEnough buying system and Excel including target and placeholder creation, as well as sales and receipt planning.
- A solid understanding of PO process including sorts (DC splits and sizing).
- Take on solving and resolving DCRs, including resolving and negotiating price discrepancies.
- Attending vendor meetings, shadowing and supporting on sales data and analysis.
- Detailed weekly/monthly sales analysis on current business trends and brand/product performance
- Manage brand assortments, including productivity and timeliness of updates for brand portfolio
- Assist the Merchant in the creation and execution of brand/product strategies
- Responsible for SKU creation and maintenance
- Maintain department records and assist with general administration, brand meeting agendas, market prep, reporting & analysis.
- Issue purchase orders within Open-to-Buy parameters; responsible for PO creation and follow up with vendors.
- Execute PO adjustments and cancellations based on information from vendors.
- Review past cancel date POs for cancellations, reissuance/escalation.
- Responsible for gathering and inputting data; building, analyzing and maintaining reports to support merchandise decisions utilizing systems such as MMS, D365, and JustEnough.
- Support merchants with merchandise event/promotional execution including but not limited to item selection templates and marketing campaign templates.
What you bring:
- 1-3 years of merchant/buying, allocations, merchandise analysis or related experience.
- Postsecondary education in a related field.
- Experience using Mi9/JustEnough system an asset
- Understanding of the importance of analysis and planning; can organize, prioritize in a challenging multi-tasking environment.
- Communication skills: Strong interpersonal skills, a good listener, good communicator, and solid presentation skills.
- Computer skills: Primarily Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and a solid Process Management.
The Compensation & Perks!
This is a permanent role with the anticipated salary range of**$65,000to$72,000 base****+ bonus**. The exact salary will be dependent on the successful candidate’s relevant skills, experience, qualifications and internal equity.
- Generous annual vacation allotment & paid care time (Wellness/sick)
- Maternity and parental leave top-up
- Staff discount and amazing deals straight from vendors
- Top-notch benefit plan & retirement plan with matched contributions
- Paid days to pursue outdoor activities and/or volunteer in your community
- Access to a learning platform and educational assistance support
- Career development opportunities
- Field experience days, team away days and much, much more
Note: Availability of the benefits and perks may be subject to your location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. MEC reserves the right to alter these benefits and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Are you up for your next adventure? We’d love to hear from you!
The Candidate must be able to read and converse in English. Le candidat doit être à l’aise de lire et de converser en anglais.
About MEC
MEC is Canada’s go-to place for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration. Combining high-quality apparel and equipment with expert advice and firsthand experience, MEC supports a wide range of activities including camping, snowsports, watersports, cycling, climbing, hiking, running and travel. Established in 1971, MEC has been a strong backer of community initiatives and has invested $44 million (and counting) into non-profit organizations that support outdoor recreation and conservation. For more information, visit www.mec.ca and follow @mec, or visit one of our stores nationwide.
We outfit our members for every outdoor adventure: from climbing, hiking and camping to snow sports, water sports, cycling and yoga. But we offer more than products: we peddle passion. Regardless of a member’s level of activity or experience, we love to share our expertise and enthusiasm to connect people with quality products that inspire active outdoor lifestyles.
If you want to know what it’s like working here, we also encourage each other to get moving. To get out the front door. Take the plunge. Try something new like riding in a Fondo, bouldering or paddle boarding. MEC is a place where ideas spark and a craving to play outside gets stoked.
MEC Community Social Media Agreement: http://bit.ly/39z0Eyl
Similar jobs you might like
Assistant Merchant - Footwear Category
Top Benefits
About the role
About MEC
At MEC, we believe the transformative power of the outdoors makes us better humans and drives us to do good for the planet. We are here to inspire and support everyone in getting active outside, matching people with gear and advice that instills confidence. We offer more than products; we offer passion for the outdoors. We play with purpose!
Our business model is dependent on impassioned and well-trained outdoor enthusiasts and as such we look for individuals who live our purpose and fit with MEC ethos and lifestyle. If you are that person, we’d love to connect with you. Join us!
MEC is an equal opportunity employer and committed to building an inclusive community of staffers. We’re proud to work with our people to create a diverse workplace, where everyone feels like they belong and has the opportunity to be successful. We welcome of all applicants to join our diverse team. Tell us what you need during the hiring process, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
The Role
We recently had a promotion within the team and looking to add an Assistant Merchant. This role will be supporting the Category Merchandising Manager within the Footwear Category in executing category strategies, managing assortments, and driving sales and margin performance. This role manages a smaller product portfolio within the Footwear category, contributing to assortment planning, sales analysis, and vendor coordination. The Assistant Merchant helps build assortments, manage purchase orders, and maintain product data while ensuring accurate reporting and operational execution. Through data analysis and collaboration with internal teams and vendors, the role supports delivering the right product mix to meet customer needs and category goals.
**Location:**This a 2 day a week hybrid in-office role, base out of MEC's Support Office in Vancouver.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Manage a smaller buying portfolio within a large buying category, delivering the sales and profits as targeted, working in tandem with Senior Merchant on the larger category their portfolio rolls up into.
- Conduct item level assortment analysis and determine assortment decisions, including coverage of needs analysis for priority sub-categories, vendor optimization, SKU optimization, price ladders, brand strategy and development.
- Working to build assortments in JustEnough buying system and Excel including target and placeholder creation, as well as sales and receipt planning.
- A solid understanding of PO process including sorts (DC splits and sizing).
- Take on solving and resolving DCRs, including resolving and negotiating price discrepancies.
- Attending vendor meetings, shadowing and supporting on sales data and analysis.
- Detailed weekly/monthly sales analysis on current business trends and brand/product performance
- Manage brand assortments, including productivity and timeliness of updates for brand portfolio
- Assist the Merchant in the creation and execution of brand/product strategies
- Responsible for SKU creation and maintenance
- Maintain department records and assist with general administration, brand meeting agendas, market prep, reporting & analysis.
- Issue purchase orders within Open-to-Buy parameters; responsible for PO creation and follow up with vendors.
- Execute PO adjustments and cancellations based on information from vendors.
- Review past cancel date POs for cancellations, reissuance/escalation.
- Responsible for gathering and inputting data; building, analyzing and maintaining reports to support merchandise decisions utilizing systems such as MMS, D365, and JustEnough.
- Support merchants with merchandise event/promotional execution including but not limited to item selection templates and marketing campaign templates.
What you bring:
- 1-3 years of merchant/buying, allocations, merchandise analysis or related experience.
- Postsecondary education in a related field.
- Experience using Mi9/JustEnough system an asset
- Understanding of the importance of analysis and planning; can organize, prioritize in a challenging multi-tasking environment.
- Communication skills: Strong interpersonal skills, a good listener, good communicator, and solid presentation skills.
- Computer skills: Primarily Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and a solid Process Management.
The Compensation & Perks!
This is a permanent role with the anticipated salary range of**$65,000to$72,000 base****+ bonus**. The exact salary will be dependent on the successful candidate’s relevant skills, experience, qualifications and internal equity.
- Generous annual vacation allotment & paid care time (Wellness/sick)
- Maternity and parental leave top-up
- Staff discount and amazing deals straight from vendors
- Top-notch benefit plan & retirement plan with matched contributions
- Paid days to pursue outdoor activities and/or volunteer in your community
- Access to a learning platform and educational assistance support
- Career development opportunities
- Field experience days, team away days and much, much more
Note: Availability of the benefits and perks may be subject to your location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. MEC reserves the right to alter these benefits and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Are you up for your next adventure? We’d love to hear from you!
The Candidate must be able to read and converse in English. Le candidat doit être à l’aise de lire et de converser en anglais.
About MEC
MEC is Canada’s go-to place for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration. Combining high-quality apparel and equipment with expert advice and firsthand experience, MEC supports a wide range of activities including camping, snowsports, watersports, cycling, climbing, hiking, running and travel. Established in 1971, MEC has been a strong backer of community initiatives and has invested $44 million (and counting) into non-profit organizations that support outdoor recreation and conservation. For more information, visit www.mec.ca and follow @mec, or visit one of our stores nationwide.
We outfit our members for every outdoor adventure: from climbing, hiking and camping to snow sports, water sports, cycling and yoga. But we offer more than products: we peddle passion. Regardless of a member’s level of activity or experience, we love to share our expertise and enthusiasm to connect people with quality products that inspire active outdoor lifestyles.
If you want to know what it’s like working here, we also encourage each other to get moving. To get out the front door. Take the plunge. Try something new like riding in a Fondo, bouldering or paddle boarding. MEC is a place where ideas spark and a craving to play outside gets stoked.
MEC Community Social Media Agreement: http://bit.ly/39z0Eyl