What are the responsibilities and job description for the Merchant position at Venus Fashion Inc?
Merchant
Jacksonville, Florida, United States (Hybrid)
About VENUS
VENUS® is a leader in stylish, on-trend designs in women’s clothing, swimwear and lingerie. Founded in 1982, the Florida-based brand pioneered swim separates and continues to drive newness in fit, fabric and design across all categories. Made for everybody, the collection is offered in a full range of sizes from 2-24. VENUS® is committed to inclusivity, as well as socially- and environmentally-responsible business practices that positively impact both people and the planet.
About the Position
The Merchant is responsible for developing a product assortment strategy that supports the brand objectives, exceeds customer expectations, and delivers on sales & profit targets. The Merchant works in collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver/exceed department & financial goals for the division & company.
Responsibilities
- Create and execute strategic direction for category focusing on building strong assortment architecture that supports total company strategies and growth plan.
- Perform competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities and be able to be able to interpret this information to maximize Venus’ appeal to the marketplace
- Builds & maintains strong relationships with cross-functional partners, including Design, PD/Sourcing, Planning, Site Merchandising & Marketing
- Partner with Design and PD/Sourcing on a seasonal basis to deliver assortment that supports category strategy & meets margin targets
- Partner with Planning to determine seasonal buys and manage the flow of inventory
- Possesses in-depth knowledge of target customer to ensure product & assortment deliver exceptional customer experience
- Attend fittings and provide recommendations to align with merchandising needs
- Analyze business on regular basis, identifying opportunities & risks to pursue and formulating action plans to address
- Partner with Marketing & Site Merchandising to build visual presentation for the season, ensuring key initiatives are supported
- Leads, mentors, and develops direct reports
Qualifications
- Excellent organizational and planning skills
- Strong interpersonal skills; excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to multi-task, delegate duties, and lead cross-functional teams
- Ability to read and interpret reports concerning margins, mark-up, sales data, and other merchant-based data, drawing valid conclusions
- Have an eye for fashion and interpret trend information as it pertains to the Venus Brand
- Computer literacy and the ability to utilize business programs as needed to conduct business. Includes but not limited to PowerPoint, Excel, Digi, Qlik, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred
- 6 years of experience in merchandising for vertical retailers, apparel experience preferred
- Management experienced preferred