Merchant - LOFT Knits

N23 Premium Brands Opco LLC; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance & 1

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Time off – paid time off & holidays

Hybrid: LOFT office in New York, NY

Job summary

LOFT in New York, NY is seeking a Merchant to lead a cross-functional team and drive the seasonal business strategy. You will influence decisions to maximize sales, margin, and brand alignment while partnering with Planning, Design, and Marketing.

Ideal candidates have 4–6 years of merchandising experience, a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and strong analytical and communication skills. This role offers a hybrid work model with presence in the LOFT office in New York and competitive

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of merchandising experience.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent analytical and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to achieve financial goals and drive the seasonal strategy.
• Develop and balance the assortment aligned with brand aesthetics and commercial targets.
• Analyze sales trends and market data to optimize pricing, promotion, and inventory.

Skills

Merchandising

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

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

• 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.

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.

KnitWell Group, a specialty retail operating company, comprises some of the most iconic brands in America – Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, White House Black Market. Individually, our brands are unique and strong. Together, we are powerful. Our common thread is our commitment to create exceptional products, provide memorable experiences, and achieve superior results. Our associates are innovators who thrive through collaboration and are dedicated to excellence. At the heart of it all are the customers we serve. We are dedicated to creating fashion that not only looks good but also makes our customers feel good.