Welcome back to our “At Home with Ashley” series, where we introduce you to team members from across the Ashley HomeStore family! Over the next few editions, we’ll highlight the stories and experiences of our Ecommerce Merchandising Team. This ever-growing team works tirelessly to provide our customers with a product assortment that meets the vision of their dream home.
In this particular post, we virtually sat down with Ryan Willis, the Ecommerce Category Manager for Home Office and Outdoor. He shared his experience through his year and a half of working at Ashley HomeStore and what he looks for in his space.
What is Merchandising?
Now, you might be wondering what someone on our Ecommerce Merchandising Team does on a daily basis. A merchant is responsible for the product assortment, pricing, promotions and site experience for their respective category. This applies to all the shoppable items on our website, from Ashley-manufactured products to our selection of third-party goods. As the Manager of Home Office and Outdoor, Willis is tasked with maintaining those categories.
所以，当你在Ashley HomeStore网站上搜索适合你的家庭办公室或户外区域的完美物品时，请记住Willis。他和他的团队努力工作，以确保您找到一个伟大的风格为您的空间。从办公椅到躺椅。
After working in retail marketing for some time, Willis made the choice to pursue a career that was more involved in the selection and pricing process of the product that was being sold. He said he loves the opportunity to work on the merchandising team because of the freedom he has with completing his tasks.
“I feel like having the right product at the right price is more important than anything else you can do in retail, and a career in merchandising allowed me the opportunity to have input on those decisions,” he said. “Being able to make decisions that truly affect our top and bottom lines is what I enjoy the most.”
Shared Spaces
As for his interior design style, he describes his “hands-off” approach when it comes to decorating his shared home. When moving in with his now fiancee, Willis gave her complete creative freedom when shopping for their home. He recognized her talent for it and simply made sure she didn’t go over budget.
“She’s great at it. She said her style is probably a cross between mid-century modern, glam and shabby chic,” he said.
对于其他准备搬到一起住的夫妇，威利斯建议在装修上遵循“少即是多”的理念。“过于杂乱的空间让我抓狂。专注于拥有一个干净和专注的外观。对你的伴侣保持妥协的心态，尤其是当他们有更好的室内设计品味的时候。
他说:“所以我的建议是，尤其是对男性来说，当你搬去和一个女人住在一起时，要准备好放弃你的很多东西。”“他们几乎总是比我们有更好的品味，不希望我们的单色单身汉家具破坏他们的形象。”
Quality Time at Home
At the end of the day, Willis uses his home as a place to disconnect from work and mentally recharge. And although he loves the fast-paced nature of his job, he needs to reset after a day full of communication.
“I’m thankful for having a job where I’m not closed off from the world but it can also wear you out mentally,” he said. “In order to balance out all that communication, disconnecting and enjoying time with people you care about is crucial. That’s what home is made for, in my eyes.”
Willis usually exercises four to six times a week to stay active. So he takes weekend relaxation a step further by taking a break from his busy workout routine. He uses his days off to indulge in his favorite foods and shows with his fiancee.
We are so excited to continue our tour of Ashley HomeStore. Stay tuned as we introduce more members of our Ecommerce Merchandising Team! And if you’d like to catch up on the previous editions of our “At Home with Ashley” series, clickhere.
What has been your favorite tip so far? Share in the comments below. You can also send us your picture-perfect space. Use #MyAshleyHome onInstagramto possibly be featured on our feed. You can also find more inspiration for your home on ourPinterestboards.
