Job Definition:
The Product Associate is the category-level product expert at Creative Co-Op — the person who knows our product most deeply and uses that knowledge to protect quality, drive accuracy, and elevate the overall credibility of the line. This role goes well beyond data entry and catalog administration. The right candidate is intellectually curious about product, proactive in identifying problems before they surface downstream, and comfortable operating as both a detail-oriented analyst and an internal consultant for product-related questions. The Product Associate owns item attribution, quality control, and cross-functional communication for assigned categories, and serves as the connective tissue between Product Development, Agents/Suppliers, Procurement, Graphic Artists, and the broader team. This is a role for someone who wants to become a genuine product expert — someone whose instincts, knowledge, and follow-through raise the standard.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Own assigned product categories end-to-end — developing deep familiarity with each item’s intent, materials, and construction, and serving as the go-to resource for product-related questions across all internal departments.
- Maintain the accuracy and integrity of all item attribution for assigned categories, ensuring product information is correct, complete, and consistently reflects how the product is built and merchandised.
- Proactively identify errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in product data before they surface downstream and take ownership of resolving them.
- Serve as the primary internal liaison to agents and suppliers for product information, communicating clearly on specifications, updates, and corrections, and following through until issues are fully resolved.
- Lead quality control for assigned products, including new item inspection, compliance review, and ongoing monitoring of items in the line; raise concerns early and escalate appropriately when standards are not met.
- Stay current on compliance with requirements applicable to assigned product categories, ensure new and existing items meet all relevant standards
- Manage chargeback communications with vendors for quality-related issues, documenting findings clearly and following established processes to drive resolution.
- Collaborate with Procurement on item setup, ensuring new products are entered accurately and that all required information is available before items are activated in the system.
- Partner with Graphic Artists on catalog creation and development for assigned categories, providing accurate product knowledge, reviewing proofs for correctness, and serving as the category subject-matter expert throughout the production cycle.
- Assist with replacement part approvals and orders in coordination with the company process.
- Contribute to weekly and quarterly product claims reporting for assigned categories, including partnering with Inventory Control on item inspection, drop tests, and packing evaluations.
- Ensure products are labeled, packaged, and tested in a timely manner and in accordance with all applicable laws.
- Serve as a backup to other Product Associates during travel or PTO, ensuring continuity of coverage and service to the broader team.
- Travel as needed for market, product review, supplier visits, or company business.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Required:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Marketing, Business, or a related field preferred.
Experience: Prior experience with a Product Information Management (PIM) system, product catalog workflows,
and/or product compliance processes is a plus. Prior work experience in the gift, home décor, furniture, lighting, or design industry preferred.
Skills / Ability:
- Deep intellectual curiosity about product — the desire to understand how and why things are designed, built, and merchandised the way they are.
- Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to see the bigger picture; capable of catching errors in item data while also understanding how those errors affect downstream teams and customers.
- Ability to think independently and exercise sound judgment on product integrity, knowing when to escalate and when to resolve.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills — written and verbal — with the ability to interface credibly with agents, suppliers, and internal partners at all levels.
- Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-moving environment without sacrificing accuracy or follow-through.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to balance data and product intuition when evaluating quality, compliance, or judgment decisions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the broader Microsoft Office Suite; experience with PIM systems or data management tools a plus.
- A sense of urgency and personal accountability — someone who closes the loop, follows through on commitments, and holds a high bar for the quality of their own work.
- Ability to lift up to 35lbs on a consistent basis
- Ability and willingness to travel as needed.
