Title: Merchant
Company Description: Leading Womenswear Brand
Location: City of Industry, CA
Salary: $100,000-$125,000
Salary is commensurate with experience and is an estimated range provided by JBC.
The Merchant will own and manage a key category of the business, driving brand-aligned strategies to exceed financial objectives and customer expectations. This role is pivotal in leading cross-functional teams, analyzing market opportunities, and executing compelling assortments that maximize sales, margin, and inventory turns.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute seasonal product strategies for a product category, ensuring alignment with consumer trends, sales performance, and market demand.
- Manage the product lifecycle from initial buy to final markdown, analyzing trends, sales data, and customer feedback to optimize assortment and inventory.
- Create strong partnerships among cross-functional areas including Planning, Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, Site Merchandising Operations, Allocation, and Visual.
- Partner with Sourcing and Product Development to manage the flow and timing of deliveries, ensuring all deliverables are met on a timely basis. Set target retails and ensure costs and IMUs align with financial objectives.
- Determine quantities to order by style, size, and color; validate to KPI objectives, Line Plan, and OTB plan.
- Prepare regular reports on sales, inventory, and trends, presenting actionable insights to senior leadership and making recommendations for improvements.
- Continuously monitor KPIs such as sell-through rates, margin performance, and customer feedback, adjusting strategies as necessary.
- Partner with Marketing to understand (Omni) floor set visual placement of product and impact on sales. Work with Visual team and Merchant leaders on key initiatives requiring marketing and visual placement.
- Ensure ongoing coordination with Site Merchandising Operations on final assortment and any updates as needed.
- Partner with Store Ops, if necessary, to create applicable training and communication to improve workflow.
- Perform research analysis of the plus-size market to identify trends and opportunities, tailoring insights to enhance the core customer’s experience and identify new growth opportunities and business strategies.
Requirements:
- Five (5)+ years of vertical retail buying experience, including fashion categories.
- Proven experience with data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
- Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, or related field preferred or equivalent experience.
- Strong understanding of fashion trends, customer behavior, and market dynamics.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret sales data and make informed decisions.
- Exceptional communication, critical thinking, decision-making, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook (Microsoft Office Suite).
- Ability to build strong business partnerships both internally and externally and demonstrate adaptability and flexibility as business strategies change.
- Strong sense of style and ability to carry out a strategic vision.
- Strong knowledge of merchandising and line development.
- Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing with all levels of management.
- Provide constructive, honest, and direct feedback.
- Manage multiple projects ranging from tactical to strategic in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to take initiative and be resourceful.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing work environment with competing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail, creativity, and a passion for fashion.
What You'll Get:
- A culture where people are accepted and encouraged to be who they are.
- Competitive compensation, 401k with company matching contribution, plus potential to earn company performance-based bonuses.
- Comprehensive wellness package including, medical, dental, vision, and Flexible Spending Account
- Generous 50% employee discount and access to employee-only sales.
- Support the causes you’re passionate about. We pay you up to 32 hours annually for volunteering your time in the community.
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Aimed at helping employees address a variety of personal and family issues including legal financial consultations, mental health services and more.
- Discounts on cell phones, and computer purchases, entertainment tickets and more.
- Pet insurance for your fur babies.
- Work and learn alongside industry-leading executives while making huge strides in impacting the lives of women.
- You’ll be challenged and grow. Opportunity for upward mobility is available at all levels of the organization.
Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.
Hybrid Schedule (in office Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)