Merchant

Why join us?

At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime - from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built-to-last, and beautifully designed furnishings.

Our purpose is to design for the good of humankind. It's the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Design Within Reach means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Design Within Reach to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

The Merchant is responsible for curating a product assortment that embodies the brand's core values while driving sales and achieving profit goals. This role requires a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and strong analytical skills to enhance the product lineup and ensure market competitiveness.

About this opportunity

• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset, with the customer centered at the core of assortment decisions

• Implement process improvements and foster connectivity between brand and retail channel

• Assess sales potential for new product introductions, weighing input from Product Management, Inventory, and Marketing counterparts

• Source new products and negotiate new vendor relationships for select third party assortments

• Contribute to design briefs in collaboration with product management to fill assortment and market needs

• In-depth review of product samples and product development prototypes to confirm proposed introductions. Meet all HM standards for: build quality, ease of assembly, packaging standards, comfort, and value

• Analyze product performance developing merchandising strategies to achieve revenue and margin goals

• Work with Inventory planners to establish annual volume projections and initial buy for new product introductions

• Present strategic business plan, with Product Development and Inventory counterparts, to department heads in quarterly milestone meetings

• Maintain acute awareness of competitive landscape, always looking for opportunities to keep the assortment fresh

• Provide relevant product knowledge and sales information to the sales team through regularly occurring product training presentations

• Proof catalog, web, and several other marketing materials to ensure content is appropriate and accurate and the designer and brand story is conveyed effectively and factually

• Monitor product return levels, presenting actions taken to resolve any issues during quarterly returns meeting

• Visit HM studio locations to understand client and AE feedback and ensure product presentation meets visual standards. Work with Visual Merchandising team to develop seasonal visual directive

• Review web merchandising and product sort priority and adjust to support company priorities

• Manage workload and mentorship of Associate Buyer

• Travel to review prototypes, visit trade shows, and source new products

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years buying experience

• Passion for modern design

• 4 year college degree or equivalent experience

• Digital buying experience

• Strong negotiation skills

• Show strong initiative and maintain a sense of pride over work results

• Experience managing junior buyers

• Interest or experience with Gaming a plus

Who We Hire?

Simply put, we hire everyone. Design Within Reach is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work. We're committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.

A starting compensation range for this role is $68,550.00 - $85,725.00. Relevant salary considerations will include candidate qualifications and experience, other business/organizational needs and market factors . You may also be eligible to receive a geographic premium, annual discretionary incentive and equity awards which are subject to the rules governing these programs. The company offers a full spectrum of benefits including Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Dependent Day Care Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Vacation and Parental Leave), Holidays, 401(k), and Short/Long Term Disability, in addition to other special perks reserved for our associates.

This organization participates in E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification. In general, MillerKnoll positions are closed within 45 days and are open for applications for a minimum of 5 days. We encourage our prospective candidates to submit their application(s) expediently so as not to miss out on our opportunities. We frequently post new opportunities and encourage prospective candidates to check back often for new postings.

MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MillerKnoll Talent Acquisition at careers_help@millerknoll.com.