Concept & Merchandising Associate

Beloved by young trendsetters and celebrities worldwide, Cider stands as one of the fastest-growing fashion brands today, with a following exceeding 5 million. Founded in 2020 and rooted in Los Angeles, we proudly serve customers in over 130 countries, offering a diverse range of styles from sizes XXS to 4XL. With our innovative smart fashion technology, Cider is leading the way towards a zero-inventory future, minimizing production waste without compromising quality. Our unique "Pick A Mood" collections transform everyday moods into captivating style statements, engaging the next generation and cementing our position as a Gen Z favorite.Position Overview:The Concept & Merchandising Associate works in close partnership with Design, Product Development, and Marketing to support the creation of a saleable, trend-right assortment. By balancing creative vision with commercial acumen, this role ensures the delivery of compelling, data-driven products to market that hit margin targets and resonate with our Gen-Z consumer.What You'll Do:Concept Development - Build business utilizing trend research, social listening, and competitive market analysis to identify white-space opportunities.- Assist with seasonal concept development by working with Design and Product Development to translate cultural moments into commercial product.- Create and maintain concept decks that balance creativity with sell-through data; pitches ideas that align with brand identity and revenue goals.Merchandising Execution- Work closely with key accounts and managers to understand current business/product performance and identify growth opportunities.- Communicate relevant feedback, in-season selling data, and inventory performance to Design and Production to inform future development- Maintains all merchandising logs and seasonal information trackers to provide data-driven feedback to cross-functional teams.Assortment Optimization- Use sales data, WOS, and inventory turns to optimize the mix—double down on winners, flag slow movers for markdown or cancellation.- Maintain sample line and assist cross-functional departments with sample management; ensures sell-through and margin goals are met.Who You Are:- 2+ years in a Merchandising, Buying, or Planning environment at a fast-fashion, denim, or contemporary apparel brand.- Ability to think strategically and act tactically—you see the big picture but can execute the details.- Strong interpersonal, communication, presentation and problem-solving skills; comfortable pitching ideas and defending data-driven decisions.- Comfortable in a self-starter environment with limited hand-holding.- Capable of multi-tasking in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.- Commitment to follow-through on all tasks and projects from concept to sell-through.- Excellent MS Office skills, specifically advanced Excel; experience with PLM or ERP systems a plus.- Deep understanding of U.S. market and Gen-Z consumer behavior; Mandarin a plus.