Senior Merchandiser

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Company Match

Employee Discount Program

Lifestyle Allowance

Mobile Phone Plan Reimbursement

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Hours

Wellness Days

Creative Leave

Monthly Team Building Budget

Job summary

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. is seeking a dynamic Merchandising Specialist to identify, source, and build a portfolio of indie and trendy beauty brands for the U.S. market.

You will curate a curated brand list, conduct market research, and establish partnerships that align with our brand identity and local consumer trends. In this role you will manage brand onboarding, negotiate terms, and develop localized promotional plans and co-marketing initiatives in collaboration with Retail, Marketing, and

Qualifications

• 5-7 years in merchandising, brand management, or retail buying.
• Strong global beauty market knowledge and trend insight.
• Proven sourcing, pitching, and portfolio management experience.
• Expertise in localized promotional planning and marketing strategies.
• Excellent project management and ability to meet deadlines.
• Experience with co-marketing and retailer partnerships.
• Creative mindset with ability to collaborate with designers.
• Proficient in inventory management, product registration, and ERP.
• Strong analytical skills to assess profitability.

Responsibilities

• Identify potential beauty brands and build a brand pipeline.
• Conduct market research and trend analysis for indie brands.
• Lead outreach and initial discussions with prospective brands.
• Oversee product onboarding and local supplier coordination.
• Develop localized promotional plans and co-marketing initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on product launches and promotions.
• Manage brand-specific promotions and KPI tracking.
• Evaluate profitability and adjust promotional strategies.

Skills

Merchandising

Brand management

Retail buying

Localization

Excel proficiency

Project management

Analytical skills

Tools

ERP systems

Inventory management

Product registration

Job description

[Employment Type] Full-Time, Exempt

[Pay Range] $80,000 - $110,000/year + Eligible for annual performance-based bonus

Benefits: 401(k) with Company Match, Employee Discount Program, Lifestyle Allowance, Mobile Phone Plan Reimbursement, Comprehensive Health/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance, Generous Paid Time Off, Flexible Work Hours, Wellness Days, Creative Leave, Monthly Team Building Budget and more!

About Us

CJ OLIVE YOUNG introduced the first Korean health and beauty store in 1999, pioneering the industry and becoming Korea’s No. 1 Health & Beauty Store. With over 1,400 stores across Korea and a global network reaching 150 countries, OLIVE YOUNG is now evolving into a Global Lifestyle Platform that brings the best of beauty and health to customers worldwide.

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. is a dynamic and fast-growing beauty retailer in the U.S. As we expand, we are also curating a selection of local U.S. beauty brands, bringing innovative and high-quality products to our customers.

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Merchandising Specialist to focus on identifying, sourcing, and building our indie/trendy beauty brand portfolio in the U.S. This role will be key in discovering emerging beauty brands that align with our brand identity and positioning, ensuring a curated portfolio that resonates with our consumers. The Merchandising Specialist will be responsible for sourcing and onboarding new brands, building strong relationships with brands, and creating localized marketing and promotional strategies that align with market trends. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of the global beauty market and be skilled at sourcing brands that complement and enhance our existing portfolio.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain a long list of potential beauty brands that fit within the company’s brand identity and resonate with local consumer trends
• Conduct thorough market research and trend analysis to identify new and emerging indie beauty brands for potential inclusion in the portfolio.
• Lead the process of tapping into and pitching local beauty brands, ensuring a strong fit for our market and brand values.
• Oversee the product registration process, ensuring accurate updates and efficient communication across all teams.
• Manage regular purchase ordering processes, ensuring timely product availability and efficient SHD (Stock Handling & Distribution) management in collaboration with local suppliers.
• Monitor the growth of brands and product lines, managing product portfolios and pipelines for sustainable expansion through customized co-marketing promotions
• Build and foster long-term relationships with brands through regular strategy meetings to ensure sustained mutual growth.
• Develop and implement localized promotional plans tailored to consumers, ensuring campaigns resonate with local market preferences and trends.
• Create marketing campaigns (e.g., localizing existing marketing IP’s and building new local IP’s) to generate excitement and engagement with local audiences.
• Design and execute co-marketing packages with brands including branding opportunities and maximizing momentum for NPD launches for scalable growth.
• Design promotional schemes, including analyzing profitability to ensure alignment with marketing budgets and overall business goals.
• Regularly update and adjust promotional strategies based on market conditions, consumer behavior, and profitability analysis.
• Build strong relationships with brands, collaborating on product listings, promotions, and marketing activities to maximize visibility and engagement.
• Oversee the development of visual assets for promotional campaigns, working with external agencies to manage design concepts, mockups, and final production.
• Manage and execute brand-specific promotions, including tracking and adjusting plans as needed to meet marketing KPIs.
• Conduct comprehensive market research to understand competitor offerings, emerging trends, and customer preferences.
• Use insights to guide merchandising decisions and ensure the brand’s product offerings remain competitive and relevant to the local market.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brand Sourcing & Assortment Development

• Identify, evaluate, and maintain a pipeline of potential beauty and wellness brands that align with the company’s brand positioning and local consumer trends.
• Conduct market, competitor, and trend research to identify emerging brands, hero products, and category opportunities for the U.S. market.
• Lead outreach, pitching, and initial commercial discussions with prospective global brands, assessing strategic fit, product relevance, and growth potential.
• Use consumer and market insights to inform assortment decisions and ensure product offerings remain differentiated, relevant, and competitive.

2. Brand Portfolio Growth & Commercial Partnership

• Manage assigned brand portfolios and product pipelines, monitoring performance and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brand partners through regular business reviews and strategic meetings.
• Collaborate with brands on product listings, new product launches, promotional planning, and co-marketing initiatives to maximize visibility and sales momentum.
• Design and execute scalable co-marketing packages, including brand exposure opportunities and launch support programs for new product introductions.
• Develop localized promotional and marketing plans that resonate with U.S. consumers, including the localization of existing marketing IPs and development of new local activations.
• Develop and manage brand-specific promotional plans, continuously tracking performance against sales and marketing KPIs and adjusting plans as needed.
• Design promotional schemes and evaluate profitability to ensure alignment with commercial objectives, marketing budgets, and overall business goals.

3. Merchandising Operations & Cross-Functional Execution

• Oversee product onboarding and registration processes, ensuring timely and accurate updates and coordination across internal stakeholders.
• Manage regular purchase order processes and coordinate with local suppliers to support timely product availability and efficient stock handling and distribution.
• Partner cross-functionally with Retail, Marketing, Operations, Finance, and external counterparts to ensure seamless execution of product launches and promotions.
• Oversee the development of campaign visual assets, coordinating with external agencies on design concepts, mockups, and final production.
• Regularly review market conditions, consumer behavior, sales performance, and profitability to refine merchandising and promotional strategies.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in merchandising, brand management, or retail buying, with a focus on local beauty brands.
• Strong understanding of the global beauty market, including trends, customer preferences, and competitive dynamics.
• Proven experience in product sourcing, brand pitching, and portfolio management.
• Expertise in creating localized promotional plans and marketing strategies, particularly with retailers and beauty brands.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of retail partnerships, co-marketing, and promotional strategy.
• Creative mindset with an eye for trends and an ability to collaborate with external designers and agencies.
• Proficient in inventory management, product registration, and ERP systems.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess profitability and performance metrics to inform business decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in Beauty/Retail industry is strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel proficiency; experience with other planning tools or systems is a plus.

Additional Information

• CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act and the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
• Benefits described herein are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable benefit plans. The Company reserves the right to modify or terminate its benefit plans at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CJ OLIVE YOUNG USA, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe in hiring with empathy and strive to build a diverse workforce that reflects our community. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to these factors.