Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager

Role Description

This is a full-time, on-site role (M-TH in office, Fri Remote) for a Product Development Manager at Daily Drills. In this role, you’ll take charge of seasonal planning, ensuring that product development and launches are in sync with our brand’s schedule and key moments throughout the year. With collections dropping every two weeks and planning happening a year in advance, this role requires a mix of strong leadership and the ability to think creatively yet analytically. You’ll be responsible for curating product assortments that not only meet customer needs but also keep things fresh and exciting. By staying ahead of trends and closely monitoring customer feedback, you'll make sure each launch connects with our audience. You’ll also collaborate with your team to develop pricing and inventory strategies that maximize sales and profitability. Your ability to adapt quickly, anticipate demand, and guide your team to deliver on time will be key to the brand’s ongoing growth and success.

Seasonal Planning & Calendar Management

• Developing and executing seasonal strategies for product launches and promotions, ensuring alignment with overall brand goals and market needs.
• Collaborating with marketing to align product availability with campaigns and timing, ensuring a seamless integration of promotional activities.
• Ensuring product launches are in sync with key moments, holidays, and cultural events to maximize consumer engagement and sales impact.
• Collaborating with the Brand Strategist to review upcoming trends, style ideas, and seasonal themes to integrate them into the product calendar effectively.
• Creating and managing detailed seasonal timelines that include product development milestones, marketing activities, and launch dates to ensure projects stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Overseeing resource allocation to ensure that teams have the necessary tools and support to meet seasonal objectives and maintain consistency across product launches.

Product Assortment Planning

• Analyzing consumer behavior and sales data to develop a compelling product assortment.
• Collaborating with the Brand Strategist to align the collection with market needs and trends.

Inventory Strategy

• Alongside inventory planner, manage inventory levels to ensure optimal stock without overproduction.
• Analyzing sales data to predict product demand and adjust orders accordingly.
• Working with the development team to manage stock flow and replenish products efficiently.

Pricing Strategy

• Setting competitive yet profitable pricing for each product based on production costs, market demand, and competitor pricing.
• Ensuring pricing consistency across collections.
• Analyzing margin goals and adjusting product pricing to maintain profitability.

Product Performance Analysis

• Tracking product performance post-launch to assess sales, customer feedback, and overall success.
• Adjusting product assortment or pricing based on performance metrics and customer demand.
• Collaborating with the marketing team to adjust promotional strategies for underperforming products.

Influencer Gifting and Marketing Opportunities

• Collaborating with the marketing team on any one-off production requests.
• Work alongside the VP of Finance and Social Media Manager to build influencer gifting budgets into the respective buys.

Monitor Dailys (Core), Extras (Accessories) inventory

• Oversee evergreen strategy and buy in partnership with our demand planning team.
• Ensure we are replenishing “extras” on the site so that there are always upsell items available.
• Continuously monitor inventory levels across multiple product categories to avoid stockouts, ensuring products are available for quick restock when demand rises.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to align on seasonal promotions, ensuring product availability supports these campaigns and drives customer engagement.
• Evaluate ongoing sales trends and make adjustments to the buying strategy, ensuring that inventory is optimized across both core products and seasonal offerings.

Leadership and Team Management

• Guide and support the Production Coordinator in managing communication with third-party manufacturers, helping troubleshoot issues as they arise.
• Assist in maintaining strong vendor relationships by providing strategic input and facilitating communication between the Production Coordinator and manufacturers, ensuring quality, timelines, and cost standards are met.
• Provide strategic input to resolve production challenges, including delays, quality issues, and material shortages.
• Foster a collaborative environment with the Production Coordinator, design, operations, and manufacturers to keep projects on track.
• Step in to help solve complex problems while empowering the Production Coordinator to manage day-to-day communication and relationships with manufacturers.
• Regularly check in to offer feedback, ensure smooth operations, and strengthen relationships with external partners.

Team Workflow and Collaboration

• Trend Forecasting and Concept Storyboarding: Led by the Brand Strategist, responsible for trend forecasting, storyboarding collection concepts, and compiling a list of new product ideas, including hero items, colorways, and fabrics, to develop a compelling product assortment that aligns with market insights and brand direction.
• Sample Development and Feedback: Lead the Production Coordinator, who oversees the execution of sample development and ensures feedback is provided to meet quality and design standards.
• Purchase Orders and Demand Planning: Work closely with demand planners and the VP of Finance to issue purchase orders, ensuring proper product availability and inventory alignment.
• Production Tracking: Lead the Production Coordinator in tracking production from start to finish, ensuring goods are delivered on spec, on time, and within budget.