Macy's Merchandising Group (MMG) is responsible for conceptualizing, designing, sourcing, producing, selling and marketing Macy’s Private Brandss. Some of our Private Brands include I•N•C, Charter Club/Club Room, Greendog, Alfani, Style & Co., Tools of the Trade, American Rag, Martha Stewart, Jenni, Hotel Collection, and The Cellar.
In the Product Development Executive Development Program (EDP) you will be given the fundamental tools and strategies needed in your first position as a Product Assistant. This layered program provides formal training classes that supplement hands-on experience. Working directly with Product Managers, Designers, Buyers, Planners, Vendors, etc, you will learn how to develop, source, negotiate, produce and sell a specific brand classification within the total $3.7 Billion Private Brands Business. In addition, you will be exposed to store management, marketing, merchandising, information systems technology, fashion research and development, and color analysis.
What you have the opportunity to do
- Competitive shop/analyze to gain awareness and stay abreast of market trends
- Communicate with MMG Overseas regarding sourcing, development, garment fit, quality, sampling, sales, and price negotiation
- Contribute business and trend strategy ideas in Line Development meetings with the Design Team for upcoming seasons based on program plans and unit projections
- Participate in tactical meetings with vendors and manufacturers to develop strategy and business partnerships
- Develop monthly shipping reports utilizing pipeline to track goods from ship window through to DC till receipt date, releasing report to senior management and coordinating with logistics and customs to resolve issues
- Manage Time & Action Calendar of the Product Development process with Design, Technical, Quality Control, Manufacturers, and Customs to ensure proper delivery of shipments
- Create Purchase Order Contracts that are the binding agreements between Private Brands, the buyer, and supplier
- Create/analyze selling reports to assist manager in recommending strategic reactions for best/worst sellers and buyer’s purchase orders, in addition to presenting monthly bestseller information to senior management
- Partner with the Private Brands Marketing team to identify new packaging and branding needs
- Track advertising and marketing samples, and monitor marketing related sales trends
- Assist in preparation for Market/Buy Meetings by creating style placement packages and line presentation materials
- Assist in presenting product line to the buyers and planners at buy meetings
What to bring to the program
- Bachelor’s degree with solid academic record, all majors welcome
- Proficiency on PCs and MS Office; excellent Excel skills critical
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects to achieve productivity and business goals
- Ability to promote teamwork, solve problems and manage complex relationships
- Experience in Retail; Sales, Management or Buying exposure a plus
Macy’s, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.
Aspire to manage a retail business from brand concept to product selling? This Product Development training program is ever evolving to address changing retail, social and economic climates. Consisting of 20 basic courses with strategically layered advanced coursework, you will learn the fundamentals and advance your career with some of these educational tools and objectives.
- Product Development Lifecycle. This dynamic class will teach you the fundamentals of the product development lifecycle through the eyes of a specific business. You will walk through the struggles, the revisions and the successes of a Private Brands style. Conducted in safe-learning environment, all first-time on-the-job questions regarding business, strategy, partnerships, systems and retail terminology.
- Design and Technical Design Overview. Experience the function of Design and Technical Design through seeing a style start from conceptual sketch to tangible sample. Understand the dynamic and necessary relationship of product developers and designers.
- Macy’s Private Brands Lifestyles. Once you understand the fundamentals of our product development business, it is as important to understand the Private Brands customer and the lifestyle they live. This hands-on interactive class allows you to dive into every dimension of each lifestyle as well as discuss how this affects their consumer behavior, which in turn dictates how we merchandise.
- Retail Math. Taught by a Professor from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a seasoned career in retail, you will learn the fundamentals of retail math and how to analyze your business and utilize sourcing negotiations to maximize your bottom line. This course will be taught in stages as you progress in your business and financial acumen.
- Key Item. Learn how to build a report used to analyze your business and in turn maximize profitability. Focus on the use of sales tracking to address fast and slow turning merchandise to react to and anticipate the needs of the business.
- Trend and Color Research and Development. Gain exposure to our in-house trend research and developers. They will give you insight as to how their forecasts of style and color trend should be translated and represented within our Private Brandss.
- Managing Generations. Understand generational differences that can affect the workplace. This will allow you to identify your generational needs that translate to your work style as well as understanding your manager’s generational needs. Together, this will help ease the transition of managing expectations on both ends and allow for an effective, efficient and positive work environment.