Director of Merchandising

Blinds To Go; Paramus (NJ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Blinds To Go in Paramus, NJ seeks a Director of Merchandising to drive product strategies and profitability through design, selection, pricing and promotion. You will lead a team of product managers, analysts and designers, collaborating with marketing and sourcing to deliver compelling assortments.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in merchandising or retail, strong vendor management, analytics, cross-functional leadership, and a passion for home fashions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in fashion merchandising, marketing or business.
• 6+ years’ experience including merchandising or buyer experience managing retail business in home fashions.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to manage vendors.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage team of product managers, analysts and designers to design, select and price products to drive sales and gross margin.
• Develop annual promotion calendar with marketing to drive traffic, sales and margins.
• Review product lines against competitors and set prices to maximize sales and margins.
• Analyze sales and margin trends to identify opportunities and liquidate underperforming styles.
• Stay informed of trends through regular market benchmarking and vendor interactions.
• Collaborate with product development and vendors to prioritize new product development.
• Lead training and store readiness for new products and displays.
• Negotiate vendor terms and manage cost for finished products.
• Drive merchandising plan execution across the organization to meet sales and margin objectives.

Skills

Merchandising

Vendor management

Product development

Pricing strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in fashion merchandising, marketing or business

Job description

Vital member of the merchandising team, Director of Merchandising works with product managers to drive product strategies and business profitability through product design, selection, pricing and promotion. He/she manages a team of small product/merchandising managers and analysts and helps to create and execute the merchandising and promotional calendar. Ideal candidate must have high intellectual curiosity, proven project and vendor management skills, strong analytical skills, strong-cross-functional skills and a willing to invest time learning a new industry.

Key Responsibilities

Directly manage team of product managers, analyst and designers to design, select, price products to drive sales and gross margin

• Work with marketing to develop annual promotion calendar to drive traffic, sales and margins
• Review/compare each product line versus competitors and devise strategy and set prices to maximize sales and margins
• Review and analyze sales and margin trends regularly to identify opportunities for improvement; Liquidate underperforming styles/skus timely and profitably
• Regularly shop ad benchmark competition to stay abreast of trends and adjust strategy as needed
• Work with product development and vendors to prioritize new product development and keep product line innovative and relevant
• Visit store regularly to keep informed of market needs and opportunities;
• Stay informed of innovation by vendors and conduct timely new products market test to gauge the potential
• Work with product development and vendors to create exclusive colors, styles, product attributesthat differentiate BTG and command premium pricing, extra sales
• Guide the visual design of products to emphasize marketable consumer desires
• Work with stores operations team to launch and ensure that stores having the information and training to sell new products
• Work with operations and marketing as needed to develop visual displays and signage to showcase new products;
• Work with stores team to develop and execute training required for each new products
• Visit stores and track sales performance and adjust training as needed to get stores behind new product
• Work with sourcing team to build loyal vendor partner and negotiate vendor prices and and manage finished product cost
• Analyze and review cost proposals based on weighted-average sales by size and negotiate prices, terms and samples and promotional support
• Get key vendors to support promotional calendar to maximize sales and margins
• Serve as the primary vendor contact for new products and pricing negotiations; participate in vendor meetings and leverage relationship as needed to resolve operation issues as needed
• Drive execution of merchandising plan across the entire organization, ensuring achievement of sales and margin objectives
• Communicate merchandising calendar and promotional calendar cross-functionally and ensure that all stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities.
• Led the project management of new products launches; Work with IT, manufacturing team and stores team as needed

Key Requirements

• Bachelors/masters degree in fashion merchandising, marketing or business
• 6+ years’ experience including:
  • Merchandising or buyer experience managing retail business preferably in home fashions
  • Proven experience in product development, product marketing, visual presentation, product costing and vendor management
• Strong understanding of interior design, home fashion trends and target customer
• Strong business acumen; Advanced analytical skills and understanding of merchandising KPIs
• Very strong problem solving and follow-up skills
• Ability to identify root causes and solve issues with a high sense of urgency
• Good customer service skills and ability to build cross-functional relationships
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven team-building skills

Integrating senior manager into the existing business and culture is critical. We will work with him/her to develop an integration plan that sets up the new manager for success at BTG. Development plan will be individualized and will include 3-4 months in our showroom to gain a first-hand appreciation of our products, customers, customer service requirements and to develop key relationships in the field.