product sourcing - product development - Alibaba sourcing - Research analyst

Summary
Product Research & Sourcing Assistant
Looking for someone to help us dig deep into product research, trends, and supplier sourcing. Especially in the world of gifting, lifestyle products, and merch.

Your job is to research what’s trending, understand why people are buying it, and help us figure out how to either recreate it in our own way, or come up with something totally different that still hits.
You’ll also be the one finding suppliers on Alibaba, messaging them, negotiating prices/MOQs, and helping us get samples sent.

What You’ll Be Doing:
Research & Trend Spotting
Deep dive into what’s trending across TikTok, Etsy, Pinterest, etc.
Understand why people are buying a product.

Create quick visual decks or docs that show product inspo + audience insight
Look into what’s working for other brands, and how we can do it differently

Merch & Apparel Focus
Research colors, styles, and graphics for things like hoodies, tees, shorts, etc.
Suggest what could work for our brand specifically, not just what looks good in general
Identify materials, details, and product angles that would make it stand out

Supplier Sourcing (Alibaba, etc.)
Find good suppliers that can make what we need (apparel, gifting products, etc.)
Message them, ask the right questions (MOQ, timelines, customization, etc.)
Negotiate pricing, terms, samples, and potentially private label options
Keep things organized: compare options, track quotes, sample arrivals, etc.


Also Important:
Since we’re a mental health-focused brand, I’ll need your help doing deep research into things like:
Anxiety, ADHD, and autism-related needs
Mental health product studies and consumer behavior
How our sensory design supports emotional regulation
What language and positioning works best for our target audience