ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT SERIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH MONET VALDEZ
December 21, 2022
In our Associate Spotlight series, we are highlighting associates across the company who are shaping our community and who embody our Life at Centric philosophy every day.
Meet Monet Valdez, Senior Manager, Merchandising at Centric Brands. In her Interview, Monet shares her experience on the creative culture of our Los Angeles office and gives us an insider’s perspective of what it means to be a merchandiser.
What is something you love about your role as a Senior Merchandiser?
I love merchandising because no two days are alike. One day, I’m behind the scenes at a photoshoot and another day, my team is presenting to Sales. One of the main functions of my job is to ensure that each season, our denim and Ready to Wear collections come to life, which means I am involved in different parts of the cycle. In our initial stages, I work with Design to develop styles based on market trends and then review washes and fabric qualities. I also partner with our Product Developer and Sample Coordinator to ensure samples arrive on time. I go over costs with Production to make sure that we hit our internal goals. One of the final steps is to create visual decks, fit guides, lookbooks and line sheets to present the collection. All of these responsibilities allow me to use both sides of my brain – the right side, which allows me to be creative, and my left side, which is more analytical.
You are based in Los Angeles. Can you tell us about your office culture and what makes it unique?
Our office is such a creative workspace! Our open concept makes it easy to work closely, and there is a lot of camaraderie among our tight-knit team. The team does a great job bringing people together for unique events like “Wellness Wednesday” walks or Pilates classes. One of my favorite events was our most recent Town Hall because we had the chance to hear from other groups about their fashion brands and then enjoyed a social get-together, complete with a taco truck and games like an avocado toss!
What is a current project you’re working on that is especially exciting for you?
I really enjoyed working on our fall and holiday Men’s catalog, where we sent 80,000 mailers to our customers. The imagery and product looked so great, and it was fun to storyboard and put together the looks, the copy and the layout. It was a collaborative project, and we worked cross-functionally with Design, Marketing and our Art Team to get it just right. You can check it out online!
What is a motto or mantra you keep in mind in your day-to-day?
Professionally, it’s that, “you are only as strong as your team.” I believe we are only as good as our partners and the people around us. The work we do at Centric Brands is a group effort – even just a “thank you!” goes a long way. Personally, I always focus on staying “present.” I keep this in mind when I start worrying about the future because we can only control what’s in front of us. Being present is a way to keep me grounded.
