Meet Sasha

Meet Sasha

We sat down with Sasha, a merchandising expert at Staples, to learn more about this career area. Sasha shares his experiences and insights, offering a closer look at the key skills and responsibilities that shape a successful merchandising career.

1. Why did you choose to work at Staples, and what makes it a great place for merchandising professionals to grow their careers? 

I chose to work at Staples because it offered a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while leveraging my skills. My work influences millions of people—businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and local governments—helping them work more efficiently. But Staples is more than just office supplies; we deliver a wide range of products and solutions designed to meet diverse needs. 

What truly sets Staples apart is the empowerment it offers merchandising professionals. From day one, you’re entrusted with ownership and responsibility, allowing you to make valuable contributions. 

Another standout aspect is the people — we invest in our teams and foster a winning culture based on our shared values. For anyone considering a merchandising career at Staples, it’s a place where you can truly grow, thrive, and see the real-world impact of your efforts. 

2. What do you find most rewarding about working in merchandising, and why did you choose this career path? 

One of the greatest rewards of a merchandising career is the chance to solve customer problems in meaningful ways. It’s about understanding customer needs and finding ways to meet them better than anyone else. At Staples, we focus on creating real value for our customers, helping their businesses succeed. Immediate feedback drives me to keep improving and inspires me to develop even better solutions. It’s incredibly satisfying to see your work make a difference and build customer loyalty. 

3. What does a typical day look like in your role, and how do you prioritize your tasks? 

Every day is different, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it. Changing customer needs, competition, and market trends mean I’m constantly assessing and adapting to benefit both our customers and the business. My daily responsibilities as a merchandiser include prioritizing tasks based on financial impact and urgency to maximize results.  Flexibility is key, as day-to-day tasks require a balance of strategic thinking and swift action.

4. How do you stay up to date with trends and data in the merchandising field, and how does this impact your strategy? 

Staying on top of trends is essential.  I’m constantly analyzing internal data, listening to customer feedback, monitoring our competition, reading industry trade publications, meeting with manufacturers, and attending trade shows. Staying informed is critical to understanding shifts in customer needs and identifying opportunities before they emerge in the market. 

This information is fundamental to shaping a proactive merchandising strategy that keeps us ahead of both customer demands and competitive moves. 

5. How do you balance creativity and data-driven decisions in your role? 

For me, data-driven decisions are the foundation of creativity. Customer insights help identify problems or unmet needs, while data analysis highlights their significance and potential value. Once I have the insights, I apply creativity to develop solutions and strategies that truly engage our customers. 

At Staples, I’ve applied this balance of data and creativity over 17 years, developing hundreds of products and contributing to several patents. One of my favorite projects was the Cynthia Rowley Case Paper. Partnering with a fashion designer, we transformed ordinary office supplies by adding high-fashion patterns to the box of reams, recognizing that customers reused them for storage. This exemplifies how creative merchandising strategies, driven by customer insights and innovation, can deliver meaningful results. 

6. What key skills or traits do you think make someone successful in merchandising and how do you apply these in your role? 

First, you must be innovative. Innovation is a critical skill in merchandising, as it drives you to question, learn, and adapt quickly. This is essential in merchandising, where customer preferences and market trends change rapidly. Pairing innovation with important merchandising skills, such as like data analysis, allows you to deeply understand customer behavior and translate that understanding into real, customer-facing solutions. 

Strategic decision-making is also crucial. This decisiveness develops through continuous learning and is reinforced by testing, helping you make well-informed decisions and apply your skills effectively.  

Lastly, resilience is a core trait. Driving new solutions requires persistence. As a merchandiser, standing firm on the value of your recommendations and effectively communicating your recommendations to stakeholders are key parts of the role.  

7. How do you collaborate with other teams, such as marketing or supply chain, to achieve merchandising goals? 

I work daily with cross-functional teams, including pricing, marketing, inventory planning, supply chain, and sales. Collaboration starts with learning from these experts to build an effective, actionable merchandising strategy. Each team must understand, adapt, and execute the strategy seamlessly. 

At Staples, we are experts in the world of work, and our shared goal is to deliver the best solutions to meet each customer’s needs. Achieving this requires a single vision and unified voice that is conveyed through our marketing. This ensures that all efforts align with our goals and maximize impact. 

Our merchandising team is exceptional, and we’re always excited to welcome new talent. Explore merchandising job opportunities at Staples here.