Key Accounts – Merchandising Support Analyst

at  Giftcraft

OVERVIEW

Reporting directly to the VP of Merchandising and Product Development, the Key Accounts - Product Development Assistant will provide essential support for product development initiatives, specifically within the Key Accounts Team. This role is responsible for coordinating and managing various product-related projects to ensure alignment with key account business objectives.
The position involves collaborating closely with the Key Account Merchandising and Sales teams, overseas vendors, internal product development teams, and other key stakeholders to ensure the successful development and delivery of products. Responsibilities include managing product-related information such as cost sheets, spec sheets, quotes, and samples, as well as coordinating with procurement and other internal teams to ensure that products meet customer specifications, compliance standards, and timelines. Additionally, the role will provide analytical support to the Senior Key Account Team, helping to drive effective decision-making and optimize product development processes.

SKILLS

• Minimum 3 years of work experience in product development, merchandising, or a related field within the wholesale/retail industry.
• Experience working with overseas vendors and understanding of international supply chain and product development processes.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, specifically with vendors, suppliers, and internal teams, ensuring clear and effective communication on product development timelines and requirements.
• Proven ability to manage multiple product development projects simultaneously, effectively prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Tech-savvy with advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other related systems. Comfortable learning new systems and generating reports and data analysis related to product development.
• Excellent organizational skills, with a strong attention to detail—particularly in reviewing technical specifications, product samples, pricing, and compliance requirements.
• Strong time management and multitasking abilities, with the capacity to work under tight deadlines and with a high level of urgency to meet product development milestones.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team as well as independently, while maintaining a positive and solution-oriented approach to challenges.
  Join our team as a Key Accounts – Merchandising Support Analyst where your insights will help shape our business strategies and drive success!
  Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
  Pay: $50,000.00-$60,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Bonus pay

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Store discount
• Vision care

Experience:

• product development: 3 years (required)
• merchandising: 3 years (required)
• overseas vendors: 1 year (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brampton, ON L6T 5A

• Work closely with senior members of the Key Accounts and sales teams to define the scope, requirements, and strategy for each product development project (customer/order).
• Collaborate with internal teams including sales, merchandising, procurement, logistics, and product compliance to perform daily/routine tasks that support the Key Accounts Product Development Team.
• Communicate and maintain productive relationships with overseas vendors on a daily basis to ensure alignment with product development timelines and requirements.
• Request quote sheets from vendors and ensure all are completed and accurate. Review quotes for compliance with customer standards, including labeling, packaging, and cost accuracy. Pass completed quotes and detailed information to Procurement for order setup.
• Follow up on sourcing, costing, product samples, customer spreadsheets, and the uploading of product information to customer portals. Ensure detailed organization of various key account product development projects/orders/information.
• Develop Giftcraft/Customer pricing spreads, including Domestic/FOB pricing, required customer markdowns, and allowances for review by the Senior Key Account Team.
• Compile and review customer vendor guides, addressing special requirements, packaging, compliance, and discounts/markdowns. Ensure these factors are incorporated into samples, pricing, and product development.
• Update information on internal line lists for sales and procurement as required, ensuring that all product details are accurate and up-to-date
• Follow up on commits/orders/POs, ensuring special requirements such as labels, packaging, and retail ticketing are included for each order.
• Liaise with the NSO team to confirm final POs are received and match original commits (dates, quantities, etc.), keeping the Senior Key Account Team informed of any unexpected issues or delays with production or orders.
• Coordinate the sending/receipt, review, and approval of samples between vendors and the Senior Key Account Team, ensuring timely feedback and approval to meet product development deadlines.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and analysis related to product development and key account progress as requested by the Senior Key Account Team.
• Perform other tasks and duties as required to support the Key Accounts Product Development Team.