L.L.Bean→
Retail Assistant Merchant at L.L.Bean in Freeport, ME
Skills
Job Description
At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.
L.L.Bean is seeking two Assistant Retail Merchants to join our Merchandising team, supporting the Home & Travel and Equipment & Hunt/Fish categories. This role requires relocation to Maine and a four‑day, in‑office schedule at our Freeport headquarters.
In this role, you will support the achievement of sales, gross margin, brand positioning, and profit objectives for an assigned business. You will do this through thoughtful merchandise selection, pricing, and promotional strategies that maximize return on investment. The Assistant Retail Merchant also helps develop and execute category strategies by analyzing sales trends and contributing to the creation of compelling, competitive assortments for L.L.Bean Retail Stores.
Additional responsibilities include managing all required systems work and maintaining continuous communication with internal and external partners. These partners include Corporate Merchants, Visual Merchandising, Merchandise Planning, Product Development, Design, Inventory Management, Creative teams, and third‑party brands—ensuring alignment with divisional goals and strategies.
Responsibilities:
Strategy
Provides support / participates as a learner:
- Concept Ideation: Perform market research; assess the competition; bring forward new product ideas
- Strategic Planning: Participates in strategic planning discussions as a learner; provides input
Market Research
- Gather market data & create reports to support assessment of competition - preseason / in season (i.e., ratings & reviews; market basket)
- Compiles and maintains data in support of team.
Planning & Analytics
Provides support / participates as a learner:
- Reviews & reports out on ratings & reviews
- Provides input to the development of Division level concepts, items, and promotional strategies
- Provides input to merchandising & selling the line
- Review & provide input to in-season markdowns
Core Work
Tools and systems management
- Maintains & ensures data integrity for variety of systems
- Communicates changes to stakeholders
- May manage photo sample process
For assigned business areas - If Applicable :
- Responsible for the line plan
- Identify opportunities & risks through analyzing sales performance and gathering marketplace information
- Participates in review of sales, receipt flow, inventory & margin projections to maximize sales & minimize risks
- Provide support & coordination for the team and may manage subset of demand center (e.g. belts)
- Communicates to cross-department group
- Additional duties as assigned
Health and Safety Requirement: Every employee is responsible for contributing to a safe and healthy workplace. Employees are expected to be active participants in health and safety by following all safety policies and procedures, reporting unsafe conditions or at-risk behaviors to leadership, and conducting work in a safe manner. Those in a leadership role are also expected to model safe behaviors, evaluate risk, and ensure that risks are reduced to acceptable levels.
Skills and Qualifications:
- 2 year Associates degree required
- Prioritizes own work with some assistance
- Receives regular direction from supervisor
- Merchandise and institutional process knowledge preferred
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Exceptional organizational skills with extreme attention to detail
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks while effectively meeting deadlines
- Work efficiently without direct supervision
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, experience with database utilization
- Team player with ability to work effectively with diverse personalities
- Must be able to handle difficult situations in a calm, professional manner
- Creative problem solving abilities
- Flexible in ever-changing, fast paced environment
If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.
If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you! At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.