Company Kathy Kuo Home is a luxury online home furnishings destination on a mission to help everyone #lovewhereyoulive. Kathy Kuo Home carries a highly curated collection of home furnishings while offering clients premium interior design services and easy-to-shop look books. Kathy Kuo Home believes that shopping for great design should be fun, easy, and inspiring, so it provides everything from design inspiration to flawless execution in one vertically integrated platform, allowing customers to create a space they will cherish for years to come. Curated Collection and EcommerceUnder the direction of celebrated designer Kathy Kuo, the company serves as the premier online boutique for luxury furniture, lighting, and home decor. The assortment is curated with a design-first approach that offers exclusive access to impeccably-crafted designer pieces from top manufacturers and artisans around the world. Full Service Interior Design StudioIn addition to its aspirational collection, Kathy Kuo Home is also a full-service interior design studio with a robust menu of Design Services. Kathy Kuo Home's roster of professional interior designers combine a high-touch, personalized approach with the latest in design technology to help customers with all of their design needs-from small updates and refreshes, to gut renovations and building entirely new homes.Trade BusinessKathy Kuo Home is proud to offer a top-tier Trade business that provides the interior design and architecture communities with an inspiring selection of luxe homewares and furnishings at competitive trade prices. Additionally, Kathy Kuo Home provides its Trade customers with a dedicated concierge team to ensure a best-in-class customer service experience throughout the entire design process. Combining service, commerce, and technology, Kathy Kuo Home is the ultimate one-stop home and design destination.Culture and ValuesThe Kathy Kuo Home team members are design-obsessed, entrepreneurial-minded, and empathy-oriented individuals that seek to create more impact and beauty in the world of interiors. As one of the fastest growing online companies in the home and garden space, it is a fantastic time to join Kathy Kuo Home's fast-paced, nimble, and creative team. Core ValuesWe Employ Design Thinking #DesignWins | Design is how one approaches everything. Employing design thinking is employing first principles thinking. This applies not only to product or space design, but how we design our day, our work processes, and our organizationWe are Limitless Learners | We are curious by nature and aim to be 1% better every day by learning 1 new thing a day.We Strive To Be Self-Aware | We are self-reflective and deeply curious about ourselves. We believe with a deep awareness of oneself, can one develop awareness for others.We Play the Long Game | We have an infinite horizon for growth and lean into business decisions that have a long-lasting impact on brand growthCore PrinciplesWe have Deep Kindness and Respect for All | Our business model is supported by the relationships that we have with our customers, vendors, and shippers. We treat our team members, shippers, and vendors with the same spirit of kindness, willingness to collaborate, and respect for their needs.We Lead with Empathy | When faced with hard choices, we lean into empathy and compassion first as our primary decision drivers. We proactively reach out to celebrate each other's success and buoy those that need us.We Require Feedback | Giving and receiving feedback promotes a culture of self-awareness, growth, and humility, the foundations of strong inter-department connection.We are Humble and Hungry | We operate with a startup mentality, scrappy and intentional with how we use our human and financial resources no matter what scale of business we are in.We Audit the Details - Design and Service | We deeply audit all details and have hyper-awareness of process, cause, and effect and how this relates to our design and service quality output.We Keep Calm / Grace Under Fire | We solve problems by being self-aware, open-minded, and accepting of different ideas and opinions and strive to be calm, reflective, and not defensive.Role Overview:As an Associate Merchant at Kathy Kuo Home, you will play a key role in supporting the product development and product selection processes to ensure that our offerings are both trend-driven and aligned with our brand ethos. You will collaborate with our merchandising and design teams to curate a high-quality product mix that resonates with our discerning clientele. This role is perfect for someone who is passionate about home dcor, has a sharp eye for detail, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in building out the assortment strategy for product development categories taking into account sales data and market insights and trends.
- Assist in product selection, vendor negotiations, and assortment planning to support seasonal buying strategies.
- Collaborate with the design and merchandising teams to ensure product choices align with the Kathy Kuo Home aesthetic and customer preferences.
- Maintain and update product information in internal systems, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.
- Track and analyze sales data to support buying decisions and adjust inventory levels as necessary.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, ensuring alignment with our core principles of kindness, respect, and collaboration.
- Support the development of marketing materials by providing product insights and feedback.
- Conduct market research to stay informed on industry trends, competitor offerings, and emerging product categories.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, or related field.
- 2+ years of experience in buying, merchandising, or retail.
- Passion for design and the home furnishings industry.
- Strong analytical and negotiation skills with a focus on long-term growth.
- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to adapt in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.