Trainee, Merchandising Women's Ready-to-Wear

About the Role

The Trainee, Merchandising Women's RTW at Christian Dior Couture participates in a structured program aimed at identifying and cultivating future leaders within the company. Working closely with the Merchandising Department, the trainee assists in achieving both immediate and strategic objectives through daily administrative tasks and long-term projects. Collaboration with trainees across various departments leads to initiatives that enhance business outcomes, culminating in a presentation to the Executive Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate and review weekly sales reports using Excel, including store and business recaps, while ensuring alignment with sales targets.
• Compile and distribute weekly Merchandising Newsletters with updates for Retail teams.
• Assist in weekly stock rebalancing to optimize sales and sell-through rates.
• Maintain close communication and partnership with Retail teams to handle daily product-related queries.
• Track and monitor Trunk Show Samples effectively.
• Support creation of seasonal launch materials such as mapping and buy books; manage photography and selling tools; ensure accurate fulfillment of client orders; and strategically adjust product allocations based on reservation requirements.
• Conduct comprehensive monthly market analyses focusing on competitor pricing, trends, activities, and events.
• Support preparation for four annual Buying Sessions, including premarket analysis by store and category, and assist with allocation decisions at store and size levels.
• Contribute innovative ideas to drive the department’s business strategy continuously.
• Assist the Merchandising team in weekly reporting and ad-hoc analyses as needed.
• Prepare detailed analysis of fast and slow-moving products and sell-through metrics.
• Compile qualitative feedback on seasonal collections.
• Conduct end-of-season product analysis and summarize findings.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong organizational skills with a results-driven and independent problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines while maintaining meticulous attention to detail.
• Comfort and adaptability in a fast-paced, self-motivated work environment.
• Effective and professional communication skills for collaboration with Boutique teams.
• Proficiency with retail systems and merchandising software required to fulfill job duties.
• Flexibility to prioritize and respond quickly to changing business needs.
• Technical skills necessary to manage merchandising software and related programs.
• Collaborative team player exhibiting strong interpersonal interactions.

Eligibility and Experience

• Enrollment in a full-time, 12-month program.
• Availability from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, with remote work on Fridays.
• Minimum of six months experience in merchandising or buying roles or internships; prior exposure to luxury women's retail is preferred.
• Solid understanding of retail mathematics and critical retail performance metrics.
• Strong command of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and proficiency across all Microsoft Office applications.

Compensation and Benefits

• Hourly wage of $20.
• Potential eligibility for company medical benefits, commuter allowance, and 401(k) with employer contributions.

Company Background

Christian Dior Couture, founded in 1947, is renowned for revolutionizing fashion with the iconic New Look. The brand celebrates its French heritage and vibrant culture by blending exceptional craftsmanship and creativity across its métiers d’art. Committed to sustainable growth and talent development, Dior fosters a nurturing environment characterized by passion, courage, and optimism.

As part of the LVMH group, Christian Dior Couture values diversity, equity, inclusion, and social responsibility, offering employees opportunities to engage in communities focused on sustainability and corporate citizenship. The company is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to ethical practices and environmental stewardship.