Meet Marie, a valued member of the Erve team, who has been making her mark as a merchandiser for over three years. With a unique background in Political Science and International Business, Marie's journey into the world of fashion and merchandising has been truly fascinating.
"I began my career at L'Oréal, driven by my passion for products, but eventually found my path leading me to Erve, where I've thrived as a merchandiser since September 2020. Joining the company during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant challenge, but it provided me with valuable insights into Erve's commitment to its employees during tough times," Marie reflects.
When describing Erve as a company, Marie highlights the strong sense of community and mutual care that defines its culture. She emphasizes Erve's unique approach to creating an environment where individuals are encouraged to be their best selves, both personally and professionally. It's a place where diversity of thought and perspective is not just accepted but actively celebrated.
"Erve is a company where people look out for each other. Everything is set up to ensure that we can be at our best mentally, physically, personally, and professionally," Marie notes. "Erve recognizes that each person is unique and can bring a wealth of new benefits, perspectives, and ideas to the team."
A typical workday for Marie is as diverse as the products she manages. She takes full advantage of the morning hours in the library, dedicating that quiet time to focus on her tasks. Her responsibilities range from administrative duties, such as entering new orders into the systems, to inspecting product samples and liaising with various industry stakeholders. The dynamic nature of her role keeps her engaged and allows her to adapt to different challenges as they arise.
"I like to start my day with a plan, but more often than not, I need to toss that carefully crafted plan aside and be flexible. That's what keeps the work week interesting," Marie shares.
What Marie values most about her job is the incredible variety it offers. She revels in the opportunity to work with a wide array of products, each with its own unique qualities, design elements, and quality standards. One moment she might be meticulously examining men's nightrobes, and the next, she's scrutinizing the details of baby socks. Her versatility shines through as she seamlessly switches between tasks, ensuring maximum productivity.
"I love witnessing a project unfold step by step and the different set of skills that each of those steps requires," Marie enthuses. "Stimulating creativity while reviewing our design proposals, assisting our sales team in drafting quotations, managing the administrative aspects of a new project, working with a physical product, conducting quality checks, utilizing commercial skills to communicate with customers, and occasionally stepping into a negotiation—it's all part of the thrill."
When it comes to her preferred tool in her daily work, Marie underscores the importance of the lightbox. This essential tool aids in color assessment and control for fabrics. Understanding how lighting conditions can significantly affect the perception of color, the lightbox enables Marie and her team to maintain consistency in their evaluations. It allows them to view fabric samples under different lighting scenarios, such as shop lighting or natural sunlight, providing a comprehensive perspective on color accuracy.
"My favorite tool is our lightbox. We use it to check and control fabric color. Depending on the lighting of the day, a color can look very different. This tool helps us maintain consistency in our checks. What's interesting is that you can assess colors under various lighting conditions, like shop lighting or sunlight. Viewing the same fabric sample under these different lights can sometimes yield very different impressions," Marie explains.
Marie's favorite Dudaat Erve is the "Support” Duda. At the heart of Erve's culture is a strong sense of support, and this Duda embodies that spirit. It encourages everyone to seek assistance when needed and offer support to others. Marie recognizes the value of knowing that her team is there to provide help and guidance when facing challenges. She believes that a culture of mutual support is vital for individual and collective growth.
"Feeling helpful is important to me, so I always turn to the support Duda," Marie emphasizes. "At Erve, we encourage everyone to ask for or provide support as needed. It's not always easy to ask for help, but knowing that the team is there helps you go further."
For Marie, being a successful merchandiser requires the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. As the bridge between customers and suppliers, merchandisers like Marie must possess diplomatic skills and multitasking capabilities. These qualities enable them to navigate complex relationships and responsibilities, ensuring smooth operations in the world of fashion merchandising.
Join Marie in the Merchandisers’ team!
We’re on the lookout for a project officer (merchandiser) to take pride in turning concepts into fashion collections for Erve. As a European leader in branded apparel, Erve (part of Erve Group) works to design and produce inspired collections for leading department stores and fashion retailers.
Check-out the vacancy and apply now!
About ERVE:
Erve is a European leader in character licences and brands. We produce branded fashion and apparel featuring TV, film, cartoon and video game heroes. As part of Erve Group, we have eight offices across three continents and we control the supply chain between raw materials and stores. Starting with our in-house design team and portfolio of licences – we source, produce, pack and transport collections at the request of major fashion retailers. With 38 years in the industry, our dynamic team values growth, transparency and customer focus. Our exceptional quality and sustainable practices have earned us a reputation for excellence.
Follow us on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Erve company page
Media Enquiries Erve:info@erve.com