Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer: Merz Family of Brands

About the Hiring Process

At Merz, we consider many factors in our hiring decision. To be considered for employment, candidates MUST complete a short survey as part of our hiring process. Please cut and paste this link into your browser to complete the survey and select Graphic Designer: https://go.cultureindex.com/s/ku8blrthpq

About Us

The Merz Family of Businesses includes 151-year old retail brick & mortar business Merz Apothecary, online store Smallflower.com, a sizable Amazon channel, and KOBO Candles - a home fragrance manufacturing operation.

What We Offer

• Salary Range: $60-$75k or commensurate with experience
• Great benefits (health, dental, vision)
• 401K Profit Sharing Plan
• Employee bonus (incentive plan)
• Employee discount
• Paid time-off

The benefits provided by Merz are worth greater than $7000 annually.

Why We Are Different

• We are family-owned and operated.
• We live by our core values.
• Gracious service is the soul of the Merz Experience, starting with customers and extending to the way we work with each other, our colleagues.
• We are one of the oldest businesses in Chicago and in the nation, and have served many generations of customers locally and across the country.
• We speak multiple languages fluently and come from all different backgrounds and life experiences.

About the Position

Merz Apothecary and its family of brands — Merz, Smallflower, and KOBO — are seeking a versatile, detail-oriented Graphic Designer to join our in-house Marketing team in Chicago.

This is a collaborative, execution-focused role supporting multiple brands across packaging, print, digital marketing, and retail environments.

While this designer will work across all brands, a significant portion of the role will support KOBO, our growing home fragrance brand with a strong wholesale and direct-to-consumer presence.

This is an in-person role at our Chicago location (4716 N. Lincoln Ave) and is ideal for someone

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

You will work within established brand guidelines and creative direction to bring product and marketing concepts to life.

Product Packaging

• Execute KOBO / Smallflower Private Label product packaging designs using provided:
• Creative direction
• Brand guidelines
• Packaging die-lines
• Adapt existing brand systems to new SKUs
• Prepare production-ready files and manage packaging revisions

Digital Marketing

• Design digital marketing assets for:
• Website (Shopify Plus)
• Email campaigns (Klaviyo)
• Paid digital advertising (Meta, Google)
• Organic social media

Print Marketing

• Create print marketing materials such as:
• Catalogs
• Shelf talkers
• Trade show signage and collateral
• Package inserts
• Postcards
• Promotional collateral
• Design Merz in-store signage and printed materials

Internal Design Support

• Design decks, reports, and internal presentations
• Support cross-department creative needs
• Help elevate visual clarity across company communications

What We’re Looking For

• 3–5+ years of graphic design experience
• Strong portfolio demonstrating:
• Packaging execution
• Print production
• Digital marketing assets
• Brand consistency across channels
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
• Solid understanding of print production, packaging files, and prepress requirements\
• Experience creating digital ad and email assets
• Ability to manage multiple brands and deadlines with strong organization
• Comfortable working in-person as part of a collaborative team
• Strong attention to detail and production accuracy
• Experience with Klaviyo, Shopify Plus and/or designing within similar web and email platforms
• Experience designing for Meta Ads and digital ad formats
• Experience collaborating with photographers and videographers
• Basic video editing or motion graphics

Competencies

• A strong visual thinker who enjoys both creative problem-solving and precision execution
• Comfortable working within established brand systems
• Equally confident in packaging, print, and digital formats
• Organized, proactive, and deadline-driven
• Collaborative and open to feedback
• Excited about working in a growing, entrepreneurial environment

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or expand at any time with or without notice.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This position is full-time, salaried, (roughly 40 hours/week), in-person, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Merz Apothecary, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Did you complete the required Culture Index survey?

Ability to Commute:

• Chicago, IL 60625 (Required)

Work Location: In person