Merchandising Category Manager

Stuller, Inc.; Lafayette (LA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Stuller, Inc. in Lafayette, LA is seeking a Category Manager in Merchandising to develop and execute merchandise buying and planning strategies and to optimize inventory across assigned categories.

You will translate customer insights, market trends, and business performance into actionable plans and purchasing recommendations. This role collaborates with product development, purchasing, supply chain, sales, and marketing to deliver the right products at the right price and timing, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Ability to analyze sales, margin, inventory, customer, and market data to support category decisions.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop merchandise plans aligning sales, gross margin, purchasing, inventory, and category objectives; manage products from introduction to exit.
• Build assortment plans defining breadth, depth, price points, and balance of core and trend merchandise; partner with product development.
• Analyze customer purchasing patterns, competitive assortments, market conditions, and category trends to identify opportunities and inform pricing and promotions.
• Identify and evaluate vendor opportunities; negotiate terms, costs, and lead times to balance margin and supply reliability.
• Coordinate with marketing, sales, product development, purchasing, and supply chain to align launch calendars and stock readiness.
• Apply project management and communication skills to coordinate timelines, priorities, and deliverables with cross-functional partners.
• Guide merchandising selection for seasonal catalogs and publications; ensure pricing accuracy and product copy with marketing.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

• Location 302 Rue Louis XIV,Lafayette, LA, 70508,United States
• Job Category Merchandising, Full-Time
• Travel 25%
• Manage Others Yes

Description

Stuller’s Merchandising division is made up of a dynamic team of subject matter experts in each jewelry product category. These specialized teams focus on developing and buying products, managing inventory levels and pricing, working with marketing to execute promotions and publications, and so much more!

The Category Manager develops and executes merchandise buying and planning strategies that drive profitable sales growth, strengthen assortment relevance, and optimize inventory investment for one of the jewelry industry's largest suppliers. Managing assigned merchandise categories, this associate translates customer insights, market trends, and business performance into actionable category plans, purchasing recommendations, and product lifecycle decisions.

Responsibilities include assortment architecture, demand forecasting, vendor negotiations, pricing, replenishment, inventory productivity and launch strategies. This role partners cross-functionally with product development, purchasing, supply chain, sales, and marketing to deliver the right products, at the right price and inventory levels, at the right time to meet customer needs and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute merchandise plans that align sales, gross margin, purchasing, inventory, and category objectives; manage products from introduction and replenishment through markdown and exit.
• Build assortment plans that define breadth, depth, price points, and the balance of core and trend merchandise; partner with product development to translate customer needs, market trends, and assortment gaps into relevant product offerings.
• Analyze customer purchasing patterns, competitive assortments, market conditions, and category trends to identify opportunities, validate buying decisions, and inform assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies.
• Identify and evaluate vendor opportunities; support negotiations related to product costs, minimum order quantities, lead times, and purchasing terms while balancing margin, quality, supply reliability, and inventory exposure.
• Partner with marketing, sales, product development, purchasing, and supply chain to align launch calendars, promotional plans, initial buy quantities, inventory readiness, and post-launch performance evaluation.
• Apply strong project management, organization, and communication skills to coordinate timelines, manage competing priorities, track deliverables, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Guide merchandise selection and pagination for seasonal brochures, catalogs, publications, and other marketing materials; coordinate pricing accuracy, product copy, artwork review, and completion of deliverables with marketing partners.
• Use reporting tools to monitor sales, gross margin, sell-through, inventory turns, weeks of supply, stock availability, and GMROI; translate business performance into buying, pricing, inventory, and assortment actions.
• Maintain current assortment data by ensuring product information, specifications, pricing, status, inventory attributes, and related category details are accurate, complete, and up to date across applicable systems and customer-facing materials.
• Develop pricing, promotional, demand forecasting, purchasing, and replenishment recommendations that support customer value, competitive positioning, inventory productivity, service objectives, and gross margin goals.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience is acceptable.
• Ability to analyze sales, margin, inventory, customer, and market data to support category decisions.
• Strong project management, organization, and follow-through skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally.
• Intermediate to advanced level proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Summary

Stuller is the jewelry industry's largest manufacturer, supplier, and technology developer in North America. With a customer base spanning the globe, we serve jewelry professionals through an unmatched selection of quality products, expert and friendly service, and the fastest delivery. We are powered by our employees, their creativity, their energy, and their commitment to creating exceptional experiences.

We are committed to our employees' comprehensive health and happiness. Our award-winning wellness initiatives and benefits help Stuller to stand out as one of the top employers in Louisiana. Learn more about our benefits by clicking here .