What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchant position at Soft Surroundings?
Prefer candidates local to St. Louis, MO but will also consider candidates to work remotely who live in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or New York City.
Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Soft Surroundings was founded in 1999. Since that time, the Company has grown from a catalog company into a multi-channel merchant with a large catalog circulation, significant on-line business and over 40 brick and mortar stores throughout the United States. We attribute our phenomenal growth to the passion our employees who provide our customers with not only high-quality apparel, home and beauty products, but the understanding that our customers are not just purchasing an item, but an experience.
Summary:
The Merchant at Soft Surroundings is a customer centric leader and Omni business owner for specific categories of the Brand. This individual is responsible for leading a merchandising team in exceeding sales and profit objectives, by developing and sourcing merchandise assortments that are Feminine, Unique, Stylish, and Effortless. Partnering with Design, Sourcing, Tech Design, Planning & Allocation, and Marketing to drive product strategies in these categories and deliver results.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and communicate pre-season strategic product goals tied to annual financial plans
- Develop seasonal line plans; partner with Design to develop seasonal product strategies, product concepts, and storytelling
- Drive seasonal data driven hindsighting across all channels
- Drive category assorting process, ensuring assortment architecture balance, compelling storytelling, and inspirational outfitting
- Partner with Planning to ensure buy targets are met; partner with sourcing to meet IMU targets, maintain quality standards in fabric and construction; partner with tech design to ensure best fitting garments for target customer
- Develop and communicate compelling and aspirational product stories, product strategies, and outfitting, with direction from GMM / DMM
- Weekly analysis of business results based on product, and actioning changes needed to capitalize on winds and mitigate risks
- Stay in touch with customer and trend thru on-going store visits, comp shopping, and market patterning
- Development and on-going management of product lifecycle process and calendar; modifying based on category lead times and market calendar
- Recruit, develop and retain Assistant and Associate Merchants
- Champion the Brand Pillars in all activities
Key skills:
- Leadership and development of customer centric teams
- Strong collaboration and communication skills
- Potential to lead and influence a greater cross functional team
- Strategic thinking, and strong business and financial acumen
- Ability to balance multiple concurrent activities and effectively prioritize for self and team
- Elevated taste level
Experience:
- 5 years of merchandising experience, preferably in an omni channel women's brand. Demonstrable ability to lead teams and deliver results
- Experience working with private label a plus
- Experience working with market vendors a plus
- Bachelors degree or above
Salary : $0