Contract Merchandiser

Contract Merchandiser – Woodinville, WA (4 days onsite). 40 hours per week. Contract runs from October 2026 through approximately mid‑April 2027. Hourly rate: $38–$40. Industry: Promotional Products / Branded Merchandise; client industry: Home Improvement Retail / Big‑Box Retail.

Job Summary

We’re looking for a creative, commercially minded Merchandiser who will develop branded merchandise and product assortments for a major home‑improvement retailer. This full‑time contract role is ideal for someone who loves bringing brands to life through product—combining trend awareness, creative instincts, strong product‑development skills, and an understanding of what customers actually want to buy. You will shape and develop client product assortments from initial concept through execution, translating brand strategy, customer insights, and market trends into compelling, market‑relevant products while partnering closely with design, sourcing, vendors, clients, and other cross‑functional teams.

What You’ll Do

• Participate in assortment planning and strategy discussions to identify the right product mix for each client and audience.
• Develop a strong understanding of client brands, target customers, brand guidelines, and aesthetic standards.
• Translate current and emerging trends into creative, commercially relevant product ideas.
• Help drive creative direction for products, graphics, embellishments, packaging, and other product details.
• Partner with internal design teams and external vendors throughout the product development process.
• Build and source strategic, profitable product assortments.
• Present product concepts and creative rationale to internal teams and clients.
• Review tech packs, lab dips, samples, fit reviews, and other product‑development details for accuracy and approval.
• Manage development samples and coordinate client review and approval.
• Negotiate with suppliers around pricing, quantities, quality, delivery, and other buying terms.
• Run or participate in merchandise status meetings, client calls, and internal work‑in‑progress meetings.
• Maintain product status trackers and assortment planning documents.
• Help ensure product development stays on schedule and launches happen on time.
• Partner across compliance, quality, sourcing, design, and other teams to ensure products meet expectations for brand, quality, margin, and execution.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of experience in retail buying, product development, merchandising, merchandise planning, or a related area.
• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Buying, Marketing, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered.
• Experience identifying and interpreting product and consumer trends.
• Ability to use market intelligence and customer insights to inform product decisions.
• Experience developing relevant, profitable product assortments.
• Strong organization and time‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple products, priorities, and deadlines at once.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and influence across cross‑functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Comfortable working onsite in Woodinville, WA four days per week for the duration of the contract.

Nice to Have

• Custom cut‑and‑sew product experience.
• Custom hard goods product‑development experience.
• Smartsheet experience.
• PLM and/or Oracle experience.

Why This Role

You’ll have the opportunity to work across the full product lifecycle rather than owning just one small piece of the merchandising process. You’ll help develop products and assortments for established brands while combining creativity, trends, analytics, sourcing, and product development. This is a highly collaborative role where you’ll work closely with design, sourcing, vendors, clients, and other internal partners. It’s a great opportunity for an experienced merchandiser who wants to jump into a fast‑moving team, make an immediate impact, and take on a meaningful six‑month contract from October through mid‑April.