Nature & Scope → Your Role at Roots The Merchandising Assistant plays a key support role within the merchandising and buying functions, helping to ensure product assortments, pricing, purchase orders, and reporting are executed accurately and on time. Working closely with cross-functional partners, vendors, and internal stakeholders, this role contributes to the effective planning and delivery of seasonal assortments while supporting sales, margin, and inventory objectives across the business. Key Responsibilities → How You’ll Make an Impact Supports both the merchandising and buying teams in achieving sales, gross margin, and inventory productivity goals throughout all levels of the business. Collaborates with cross-functional teams including planning, allocations, visual merchandising, and retail operations to gather key information that helps create and execute brand vision. Conducts market research, competitive analysis and other miscellaneous projects to analyze consumer purchase patterns to aid in identifying future trends and opportunities. Assists in the development of product assortment plans, new collections and seasonal launches in partnership with both the merchandising and buying teams. Formulates retail and costing strategies to ensure targets are met for departmental profitability. Builds and maintains strong vendor relationships while evaluating samples, purchase needs and determining product availability. Ensures accuracy of purchase orders and resolves any delivery issues. Generates on-order and product flow reporting, inventory analysis and ad-hoc reporting to ensure business demands are met. Executes purchase order management, price management and item creation. Supports in driving a cohesive consumer experience across all categories and channels. Acts as a connector between the merchandising and buying functions, ensuring alignment on priorities, timelines, and brand direction. Qualifications & Experience → The Skills You Bring Diploma/degree or equivalent in Business, Commerce or Fashion Merchandising. 2–3 years related experience in retail merchandising or buying highly preferred. Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data, problem-solve, and make critical decisions. Able to work in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment and meet tight deadlines. Extraordinary attention to detail, organized, and able to efficiently complete tasks. Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Excellent communication skills – interpersonal, written and verbal. Goal-oriented with a desire for constant self-improvement. Excellent sense of style and fashion trends and embodies the Roots brand. This role supports our Fair Labour Association accreditation by applying Responsible Purchasing Practices that promote fair labour standards and responsible sourcing.