The Director of Merchandising is accountable for maximizing sales and profitability in alignment with the company strategies. This involves developing and executing a robust merchandising strategy, driving product development, creating, and analyzing merchandising architecture, leading the merchandising team to high performance, working cross-functionally on marketing and promotional strategies, and maintaining a focus on continuous learning and improvement. This role is responsible for leading a team of merchants to source and develop exclusive branded products that will continue to enhance the company’s brand, drive sales, and EBITDA.

Ideally, the Director of Merchandising is a self-starter who is detail-oriented, well organized, comfortable with product, trends, the customer, and data. The candidate is passionate about the digital space. The candidate will also have strong and demonstrable eCommerce experience in a high-turnover, SKU intensive apparel environment as well as possess strong analytical skills, exude creative problem solving, and be able to excel in an environment that is fast-paced and can change daily.

This position reports to the CEO.

Responsibilities

Work with Planning to ensure inventory and product costing is in line with Company margin objectives.
Build processes across the business to assist with scale as the Company continues its rapid growth.
Review and analyze consumer demographic and psychographic characteristics, fashion trends, retail landscape and other relevant data to stylistically interpret, financially plan for and react to emerging market trends and conditions.
Determine appropriate competitive strategies to drive product development, good/better/best quality merchandise assortment and quantity, purchase, pricing, margin, promotion, and clearance to complement the other product categories and maximize return of advertising investment.
Partner with merchandise planning to develop and implement a balanced strategy by department.
Research and shop competitors to ensure Pink Lily is a leader in product and value.
Negotiate with manufacturers and others to maximize profitability and achieve financial objectives by securing the best opportunities in pricing, quantity, and delivery based on the plan.
Create a culture within the team that empowers and motivates the team to achieve great results.
Grow, mentor, retain, and develop Merchandising team. Develop and execute merchandising strategies aligned with the company's goals and brand vision.
Consistently demonstrate an ability to turn consumer insight into actionable recommendations as it relates to assortment strategy.
Monitor and analyze sales performance and key merchandising metrics, making data-driven recommendations for optimization and improvement. Lead product growth strategies to reach sell-thru targets and meet sales/margin goals.

Required Skills

Bachelor’s degree
Accomplished merchant with 10+ years of experience in women’s specialty apparel
Strong business acumen and a deep understanding of merchandising principles, including assortment planning, product lifecycle management, and pricing strategies.
Results-oriented mindset with a focus on achieving sales targets and driving business growth while always keeping the customer in mind.
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated “player/coach” capabilities.
Proactive and takes the initiative to drive business and think outside of the box.
Strong skills in agility, along with the ability to pivot easily when directions and priorities change on short notice.
Preferred experience using Shopify as an eCommerce platform.

Pink Lily offers a complete benefits package including medical, vision, and dental insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and clothing discounts.

Pink Lily is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minority / Disability / Gender / Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age / Veteran

Pink Lily jobs

Director of Merchandising