Product Development Intern
Company Overview
Pearl West Group (PWG) is building the future of consumer brands—fast, lean, and with a playbook engineered for scale. We operate like a modern, mini-Unilever: multiple brands, centralized growth engines, and a high-performance culture that moves at startup speed with private equity discipline.
We currently own and operate six fast-growing e-commerce brands across beauty, wellness, health, and lifestyle with over $40M+ in annual revenue and more acquisitions in the pipeline. Our mission is straightforward:
Build brands that leave lasting impressions — and exit them at their peak.
Our team is small, hungry, and built around Competitive Greatness, Speed to Execution, Team Empowerment, and Relentless Ownership. This is not a slow-moving corporate environment — this is where young operators can grow faster in 12 months than most do in three years.
If you want to see how real consumer brands are built from the inside — this is your opportunity.
Role Overview
As a Product Development Intern, you’ll support our Product Development team in researching new product opportunities, analyzing trends, understanding customer needs, and helping build our 12-month Product Pipeline. This role blends creativity with analytical thinking, giving you exposure to how new ideas turn into real products that hit the market.
You’ll work closely with product developers, sourcing, and cross-functional teams to learn the fundamentals of product research, competitive analysis, customer insights, and early-stage product validation. This is a hands-on internship where you’ll grow through real responsibilities, not busywork.
This role is internship/entry-level, suitable for fresh graduates, students, or early-career candidates looking to break into e-commerce, product development, brand management, or consumer brand building.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in maintaining the Product Pipeline by organizing product ideas, research findings, and status updates.
- Support product and market research by gathering data on trends, competitors, and customer needs.
- Conduct preliminary keyword research to assess basic product demand and search intent.
- Help compile competitor reports, including pricing, features, customer reviews, and USPs.
- Assist in validating product ideas using customer feedback, surveys, and internal testing workflows.
- Collaborate with the sourcing team by preparing basic documentation needed for supplier discussions.
- Support internal presentations by preparing research summaries, product snapshots, and data sheets.
- Learn PWG’s brand voice and customer avatar, and apply those insights in research tasks.
- Contribute creative ideas for improving product concepts and identifying opportunities in our niches.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Research Accuracy: Quality and completeness of data gathered for market, competitor, and keyword research.
- Pipeline Support: Timeliness and accuracy in updating the Product Pipeline.
- Research Output Volume: Number of product ideas researched or validated monthly.
- Documentation Quality: Clarity and structure of research reports and summaries.
- Collaboration & Communication: Responsiveness and reliability in cross-functional workflows.
Success Benchmarks (30-60-90 Days)
First 30 Days
- Onboard to PWG's brands, customers, and product development workflow.
- Learn research tools such as Google Trends, Amazon research tools, competitor analysis tools, and our internal systems.
- Complete your first basic product research assignment.
First 60 Days
- Independently conduct product and competitor research with minimal guidance.
- Support the development of at least 5–10 early-stage product concepts.
- Present findings clearly to your Product Development Manager.
First 90 Days
- Own specific sections of the Product Pipeline with confidence.
- Deliver reliable research packages used for real product decisions.
- Demonstrate strong understanding of our customer avatar and niche trends.
Required Skills & Qualifications
Must-Have Skills
- Strong analytical and research skills.
- Curiosity about consumer products, e-commerce, and brand building.
- Excellent written English and communication skills.
- Basic proficiency in Google Sheets/Excel.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented.
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience with keyword tools (not required, training provided).
- Familiarity with e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop).
- Interest in product design, consumer behavior, or marketing.
- Previous internship experience in research, marketing, or operations.
Experience & Education
- Fresh graduate or currently completing a degree in Business, Marketing, Research, Entrepreneurship, or any related field.
- No prior product development experience required — we will train you.
Who Should Apply?
Apply if you:
- Are curious, analytical, and eager to learn how real brands build products.
- Love researching consumer trends and uncovering insights.
- Want hands-on exposure, not just theoretical learning.
- Thrive in fast-paced environments.
- Take ownership and follow through on tasks.
Do NOT apply if you:
- Need constant handholding.
- Prefer repetitive tasks over learning and problem-solving.
- Dislike research-heavy roles.
- Struggle with deadlines or staying organized.
Why Join Us?
- Real Impact: Your research contributes to products that launch into the market.
- Career Acceleration: Learn directly from operators who’ve built 9-figure consumer brands.
- Performance Culture: You’ll grow fast in a no-politics, high-ownership environment.
- Mentorship: Work with product developers, sourcing, brand managers, and leadership.
- Future Opportunities: High-performing interns are first in line for full-time roles.
Compensation & Benefits
- Internship Stipend: Competitive
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Vancouver-based preferred)
- Perks: Learning stipend, mentorship sessions, exposure to real brand operations
Application Process
- Submit resume + short cover letter.
- Light assessment (research assignment).
- Screening call with HR.
- Final interview with the Product Development Manager