Merchant - LOFT Knits

KnitWell Group; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Merchandise discount

Career mobility within our brands

Volunteer opportunities

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Job summary

KnitWell Group is hiring a Merchant to lead a cross‑functional team and drive seasonal collections that meet brand, client, and financial objectives. You will analyze sales trends, optimize inventory, and partner with Design, Production, Marketing and Visual teams to deliver compelling assortments.

The role requires 4–6 years of merchandising experience, a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, and strong analytical and leadership skills. Hybrid work in New York, NY with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• 4–6 years’ experience in merchandising.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Ability to translate analysis into actionable timelines and solutions.
• Exceptional leadership across functions; ability to influence.
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of financial metrics.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong negotiation and decision‑making capabilities.
• Clear understanding of brand, client and experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Analyze business and make recommendations based on sales history and market trends.
• Partner with Merch Planning and Allocation on strategic inventory management to maximize sales and margin.
• Collaborate with Design and Production to exceed IMU goals and ensure timely delivery.
• Lead cross‑functional teams to drive results and influence key decisions.
• Coordinate with Marketing for accuracy of samples and style information.
• Work with Visual to communicate big ideas, investments, strategies, carryover.
• Own seasonal framework; identify growth/decline opportunities in progression and product classification.
• Balance the line with Design to ensure assortment supports department strategies.
• Gather competitive pricing, style and messaging information to inform decisions.
• Share in-store observations at Merchant staff meetings to guide business and product decisions.

Skills

Merchandising experience

Analytical thinking

Leadership across functions

Negotiation

Decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Timeline execution

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About us

LOFT creates modern, feminine, versatile clothing for women with one common style goal: to look and feel confident wherever the day takes them. We empower women to find their authentic self-expression because feeling like yourself is always in style.

Here at LOFT, we’re busy styling the careers and supporting the lives of everyday optimists just like you. Express your authentic self and experience endless inspiration, all while enjoying the opportunities and benefits that help you get the most from your career, life, and wardrobe.

About the role

The Merchant will lead a cross-functional team to achieve divisional financial goals by inspiring collaboration and positive cross functional relationships. The Merchant develops and drives the business strategy to meet financial objectives and client expectation. This entails successfully executing on seasonal business strategies to include building and executing a collection that embodies the brand, client and overall experience.

The impact you can have

• Analyze business and make recommendation on how to drive the business based on sales, history, and market trends.


• Partner with Merch Planning and Allocation on strategic inventory management to maximize sales and margin and minimize risks through markdown and promotional strategies, receipt shifts and changes and chase opportunities. Conduct first pass with planning to ensure vision of collection ties back to financial plans.


• Partner with Design and Production to exceed IMU goals and ensure timely delivery of goods.


• Lead CFT to drive results and make decisions that support the departmental strategies. Demonstrate ability to influence key decisions makers. Build relationships through effective collaboration that contributes to a high performing team. Participate as a solution-oriented team member.


• Partner with marketing for accuracy of samples and style information.


• Partner with Visual to communicate big ideas, key investments, strategies, carryover, special needs, signage.


• Own seasonal framework. Identify opportunities for growth /decline in prog /cc and product / classification opportunities. Communicate framework to CFT.


• Work with manager to edit and balance the line in partnership with Design. Identify opportunities for growth and decline by classification. Ensure assortment supports department strategies and falls within brand aesthetic.


• Gather and collect information from competitive set including pricing, style, and key messaging information. Use information to make sound recommendations for department.


• Work in stores once quarterly. Share observations at Merchant staff meetings and use information to recommend business and product decisions. Represent client in critical fits.

You’ll bring to the role

• 4 – 6 years’ experience in Merchandising.


• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.


• Ability to take analysis into action, executes to timelines and provides timely solutions.


• Exceptional leadership capabilities and the ability to influence others across functions; build support and engagement.


• Strong analytical skills and clear understanding of financial measurements and how to impact them.


• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.


• Strong decision-making capabilities; strong point of view and negotiation skills.


• Clear understanding of brand, client, and experience.


• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications.

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.


• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.


• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities. *


• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K)*


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)


• Time off – paid time off & holidays*


• The target salary range for this role is: $80,000 - $87,000*


• Hybrid: This position works in a hybrid model, with required days worked in the LOFT office location in New York, NY as defined by business needs.

*Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.

#LI-CS3

Location:

Times Square Tower-ANN-New York, NY 10036

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [e-mail]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.