MERCHANDISER- HOME OFFICE- KENDRA SCOTT
About Kendra Scott
We are a fashion-lifestyle brand of big dreams, colorful confidence, and inspired design. Founded on Family, Fashion and Philanthropy, we believe that our employees and customers are the heart and soul of our brand, and that giving back is the truest form of success. Fashion meets innovation in the design of our two state-of-the-art facilities based in the heart of Austin, Texas, and overflows into the design of our growing retail environment across the country.
Position Overview
The Merchandiser is a professional member of the Merchandising team and reports to the Director of Merchandising. This is an exempt, salaried position whose primary responsibility is to develop merchandising product strategies and assortment plans, resulting in exciting and timely product assortments that will maximize sales, profits and support overall brand positioning. The Merchandiser is responsible for the success of their business and is expected to use their knowledge of current business in conjunction with the awareness of competition and their fashion intuition to direct assortments.
This role will focus on an emerging specialty product category centered around wedding & lifestyle milestones. This product line will span several categories including, but not limited to, Jewelry, Apparel, Accessories, Housewares and gifting, and other Lifestyle categories. The merchandiser will be developing key product strategies and assortment plans to successfully launch an immersive concept.
Responsibilities
Product & Calendar Planning
Drive assortments, milestone dates, and performance analysis of owned programs, while still maintaining a holistic view of the category as a whole and total company financial and brand objectives Develop and recommend product assortments that will maximize sales, profits, meet customer demand, and support overall brand positioning Own relationships with new brands and vendor partners Responsible for line finalization, communication and go-to-market preparation Responsible for all line maintenance: assortment sheets, adds/drops and retail pricing Create clear pricing structures that ties perceived value, quality and retail pricing together Determine selling strategies, selling periods, product lifecycles, brand positioning and channel distribution for applicable categories and channels Determine brand drivers, business goals and key products by season Manage category go-to-market calendar milestone dates and partner with key CFTs to ensure deadlines and goals are met Communicate and distribute all critical merchandising information to key functional areas on a timely basis Support the creation and presentation of applicable category feasibility studies, business plans, and overall company product roadmap Partner with other merchants to ensure clear execution of priorities and product alignment
Cross-Functional Partnership & Leadership
Develop line plans and collaborate with Design and Product Development to effectively build assortments that achieve sales and brand goals Partner with Planning and Allocation to influence seasonal investment and allocation strategy, ensuring big ideas and growth drivers are protected Proactively partner with channel and category heads to continuously understand product trends, requests, opportunities, and risks within their businesses Ensure product initiatives and priorities are seamlessly executed through e-commerce and in-store presentations and strategies Ensure clear, 360-degree communication with CFTs (planning, design, sourcing, retail, digital, marketing) on aligned priorities and deadlines Anticipate the impact of decision-making on team & cross-functional partners Set & re-direct priorities. Communication objectives to drive financial targets while ensuring cross-functional alignment Effectively manages up, communicating results & strategies to leadership including key wins, risks, and opportunities Manage an associate merchandiser, setting clear expectations, communicating objectives, and inspiring growth & development
Financial Metrics & Reporting
Partner with the Planning team to establish financial expectations and metrics for owned categories Proactively monitor and report on product and category performance to identify risks and opportunities Formally hindsight product performance, communicate clear takeaways, and establish actionable next steps from learnings Ensure IMU% targets are met and provide creative solutions for meeting and exceeding financial goals
Industry & Customer Expertise
Focus on developing customer intimacy skills through regular store visits and competitive shopping; apply findings to merchandising and execution strategies. Guides assortment and launch decision-making based on industry insight and customer analysis; expert in owned programs and corresponding industry landscape Conducts comprehensive competitive research and analysis; present findings to applicable teams
Our Ideal Candidate Will Have
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, B.S. in Retail Merchandising preferred 5+ years' experience in retail merchandising or related field for a high-growth company Experience in apparel & accessories highly desired 1-2+ years' experience managing an Assistant or Associate Merchant A proven ability to execute with consistent delivery and reprioritize based on evolving business needs Champion for product, brand, and customer in all cross-functional initiatives and plans Strong financial acumen Highly organized, detail-oriented, and accurate Elevated communication and presentation skills; ability to influence multiple levels of the company A strong ability to build cross-functional partnerships and work collaboratively Desire to work in a fast-paced environment A growth mindset: desire to learn, grow, and embrace new ideas A shared appreciation for our 3 core values of Family, Fashion and Philanthropy
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.