Friedman’s Home Improvement is a pillar of the community, with store locations in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, and Ukiah. We are a longstanding employer of choice with a strong philanthropic commitment to the communities we serve. As a third-generation family-owned and operated business, our company culture fosters team values, provides a positive work environment, and supports work-life balance.
The Vice President of Merchandising & Replenishment is a member of our Executive Leadership team and is a strategic and operational leader responsible for developing and executing comprehensive merchandising strategies to align with the company’s overall goals. This role will oversee critical merchandising functions, including category and assortment management, pricing, inventory optimization, vendor relationships, and space planning, ensuring a balance between growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving revenue growth, managing product life cycles, and leading cross-functional teams in a collaborative and customer-centric environment. They will be a values-based leader that has demonstrated commitment to the development of leaders and the ability to participate in executive-level decisions beyond their primary areas of focus.
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement profitable merchandising strategies that align with the CEO’s vision and company goals.
- Drive revenue growth by optimizing the merchandise lifecycle, including cradle-to-grave item management.
- Conduct market research and utilize analytics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
- Demonstrate a curious nature and proactively seek meaningful information, gathering data insights to make informed and strategic decisions.
- Establish KPIs and performance metrics to measure the success of merchandising strategies and initiatives.
- Foster an experimentation mindset to drive innovation and growth in core and strategic areas.
Merchandising Functions
Category & Assortment Management : Create and refine product assortments to meet market demands and align with the brand’s identity.Promotional & Seasonal Planning : Oversee planning and execution of promotional and seasonal merchandise strategies to maximize customer engagement and sales.Item Lifecycle Management : Manage product life cycles from introduction to retirement, ensuring profitability and alignment with market trends.Price Management : Develop and execute pricing strategies that balance customer value with margin optimization.Financial Merchandising Planning : Lead pre-season and in-season financial planning, including sales, gross margin, markdowns, clearance, and unit projections.Vendor Management : Build and maintain strategic vendor relationships, including contract negotiations and performance management.Space Planning : Optimize retail space utilization to enhance the shopping experience and drive sales performance.Replenishment Focus
Deep understanding of logistics, customs regulations, and inventory flow best practices.Ability to align replenishment strategies with broader business and merchandising goals.Analytical and systems-savvy, with experience implementing technology solutions for inventory and replenishment efficiency.Ensure optimal inventory levels through effective demand forecasting, supply chain coordination, and distribution planning.Develop and oversee replenishment strategies that balance customer demand with cost efficiency and minimize excess stock.Align replenishment with promotional and seasonal planning to support sales goals and optimize inventory flow.Team Development and Collaboration
Build and lead high-performing, cross-functional merchandising and replenishment teams.Set clear expectations, monitor performance, and provide coaching to foster team development and succession planning.Collaborate with planning, marketing, logistics, technology, and operations teams to drive synergy and efficiency.Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, encouraging participation and ownership across departments.Required Qualifications
Experience :
Proven track record of success in merchandising leadership roles, ideally within the Home Improvement or related retail industries. Familiarity with Lumber & Building Materials (LBM) industry is a plusDemonstrated ability to develop and execute profitable merchandising strategies.Active participation in executive-level strategic decision-makingSkills :
Expertise in category management, inventory optimization, and financial planning.Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.Proficiency in data analysis, reporting tools, and market research methodologies.Leadership :
Ability to develop high-performing teams and foster a collaborative culture.Proven experience in cross-functional collaboration to drive strategic outcomes.Adaptability :
Skilled at shifting priorities and adapting to changing market conditions and business needs.Traits and Competencies
Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.Analytical and emotionally intelligent, with strong problem-solving capabilities.Resilient and adaptable, with a commitment to continuous improvement.Diplomatic, innovative, and collaborative in decision-making.Friedman’s Home Improvement is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
