Associate Merchant

Company Overview

Asset Marketing Services, LLC (AMS), the leading direct-to-consumer platform for high-end collectibles, specializing in rare coins and bullion. Our flagship brand at GOVMINT, offers our customers a meticulously curated selection of products-from ancient artifacts to vintage and modern treasures-delivering sought-after pieces directly into the hands of passionate collectors.

Our concierge service provides exclusive access to rare finds, while our strong partnerships with world mints allow us to quickly bring highly desirable coins to market. At AMS, we don't just sell collectibles-we bring the Thrill of the Find to life for all types of collectors. Because coins are a connection to something so much bigger, we thread captivating storytelling about travel, culture, history and humanity into literally everything we do.

We are driven by our core values of integrity, collaboration, and creativity, ensuring that we build trust with collectors, work seamlessly as a team, and continuously innovate in the field of numismatics.

Position Overview

The Associate Merchant is responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of assigned product programs, including planning, development, design, and implementation. This involves analyzing past performance and market trends, devising a strategy, selecting product assortments, negotiating with suppliers, launching products, and conducting reviews during and after the season. The Associate Merchant collaborates with the product development studio, identifies potential products for marketing channels, and contributes new ideas for future programs. The goal is to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, with a focus on program revenue and profit margin. The Associate Merchant builds and maintains strategic vendor relationships, works closely with various departments like Marketing, Sales, and Procurement, and exercises critical thinking and discretion in supplier negotiations and market development. The role also involves gaining knowledge of numismatics within the industry through training and on-the-job learning. Ultimately, the Associate Merchant position serves as a steppingstone for individuals to progress toward becoming an established Merchant.

Essential Functions, Duties & Accountabilities

Customer Hindsights & Trends

• Identify past performing trends on existing products.
• Expand product offerings on all marketing channels including but not limited to: Collector Services, Web, Catalog, Print & Radio.
• Monitor the current market and competitive trends to identify opportunities for growth.
• Support new product ideation activities and processes by using the Product Development Studio.
• Develop product planning through customer insights from the suppliers. (what are they hearing and seeing)
• Work directly with customers to determine needs, wishes, and wants from a product development and offering perspective.

Strategy

• Identify new product opportunities while working with appropriate or assigned suppliers based on their off-the-shelf offerings.
• Identify new product opportunities while working with the Product Development Studio. (customs & exclusives)
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales on overall product strategy.

Assortment Planning

• Lead and manage all aspects of the development of programs.

• Identify new product opportunities while working with a planner to determine:

• purchase quantities

• assortment

• inventory mitigation strategies

• price planning

• Work with the planner on forecasting total units and pricing in order maximize gross margin dollars and inventory turn.

Financial Planning

• Actively analyze pricing and sell through trends to optimize gross margin and cash flow
• Collaborate with Accounting and Procurement on the negotiation, purchase, scheduling and logistics of product delivery.

Supplier Management & Negotiation

• Maintain, enhance, and develop strategic relationships with vendors.
• Responsible for negotiating pricing with the help of the Planner and Merchant.

Product Activation

• Maintain communication with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Merchandise Support Specialists on approved programs to ensure that:
• SKUs are ready to be activated.
• Pricing is reviewed and correct.
• MSSs are actively asking the merchant and associate merchants if all parts of the project are ready to launch to include:
• Fact sheets
• Sell sheets
• Scripts
• Product samples

Product Performance Management

• Acutely monitor inventory levels, recommend, and direct plans for re-promoting and/or liquidating remaining product that did not perform to expected levels.

Additional Functions, Duties & Accountabilities

• Consistently exercise independent judgment and discretion in matters of budget, scope and timeline.
• Actively serve as a member of PD Team and support others as necessary.
• Maintain flexibility in work schedule to meet business needs.
• Actively and positively contribute to the overall success of GOVMINT through regular contributions to the general management of the company. Participate and provide leadership in inter-departmental meetings, projects and informal activities. Support the company and other departments wherever and whenever your skills and experience would be beneficial.
• Uphold and promote the AMS I-CARE values system of integrity, communication, accountability, respect and energy in all relationships with customers, suppliers, fellow employees and other stakeholders.
• Ensure the confidentiality and full and complete safeguarding the company's trade secrets and any of our business clients' customer lists and related records.

Requirements

Educational Requirements

• 4-year college degree is a benefit but not required. Equivalent work experience or a demonstrated ability to successfully perform the requirements of the position.

Experience and Skills

• 2-4 years of experience in program, project or product management, or equivalent experience.
• Highly organized, communicative, and capable of functioning in a fast-paced environment
• Possesses strong attention to detail and demonstrates outstanding verbal and written communication abilities, while actively engaging as a listener.
• Competent in consistently meeting or surpassing specified deadlines.
• Proficiency in creative thinking and a willingness to explore unconventional opportunities.
• Capability to effectively handle intricate relationships both within the organization at a corporate level and externally on an individual level.
• Demonstrates a strong work ethic, exhibits accountability, is self-motivated, and upholds a high level of professionalism.
• Proficiency in employing both strategic thinking and creativity to steer the course of product development.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Experience and knowledge in numismatics and the coin market is a benefit but not required.

Travel

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally when required, approximately 0-25%.

Acknowledgement

Employees may be assigned to other duties in addition to or instead of those described herein. Duties are subject to change at any time according to the changing needs of the business. I acknowledge that I have received a copy of this job description for my review and future reference.