Merchandiser

Job Summary: The Merchandiser for the Home & Gift category is responsible for developing, executing, and optimizing an emerging product category across retail and ecommerce. This role manages the full lifecycle of product initiatives from concept through launch, while ensuring the assortment aligns with the company's overall merchandise strategy and financial goals. The Merchandiser develops product lines that reflect the business vision, plans assortments that meet financial targets, and ensures sales, margin, and profit goals are achieved through strategic selection, pricing, and promotion. This role requires strong analytical ability, cross-functional partnership, and the ability to translate strategic direction into actionable plans. It is an individual contributor role with high visibility and strategic impact. Scope of job: This Merchandiser will support the execution and ongoing development of the Home & Gift category, an emerging area of the business. This experienced role is focused on project management, visual and omnichannel merchandising execution, and process implementation, ensuring product initiatives move efficiently from concept through launch across retail and ecommerce. This role partners closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to translate direction into actionable plans, timelines, and deliverables. Success in this role requires one to be highly organized, execution-focused, and comfortable building structure within a developing category. This is an individual contributor role. Duties and Responsibilities:Strategic Merchandising & Financial OwnershipDevelop product lines that represent the business, align with the company's merchandise strategy, and support overall business goals. Assures sales, gross margin, and profit goals are achieved or exceeded through effective merchandise selection, pricing, promotion, and inventory management. Plans product assortments and buy plans that deliver against financial targets and maximize return on inventory investment and store/online space. Review the sales plan and make merchandising decisions in partnership with leadership. Determines order quantities and partners with vendors to manage flow and delivery timing. Communicates with leadership on best- and worst-selling products and partners with Marketing to identify items for promotional focus. Trend, Customer, and Market AnalysisResearch and analyzes sales information, market performance, pricing, and promotional strategies. Identify trends and determine short, medium, and long-term actions to increase sales, improve margins, and minimize risk. Profiles and understands core customers to ensure customer satisfaction and inform assortment decisions. Gathers competitive intelligence and stays current on fashion and category trends. Cross-Functional Leadership & CollaborationCreates strong partnerships across Planning, Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Marketing, Site Merchandising, Allocation, and Visual. Influences assortment content through seasonal product briefs and ongoing business performance reviews. Manages in-store assortment activation by partnering with Retail and Events, Brand, Store Training, and Operations. Partners with Technical Design, Design, and Product Development to ensure merchandise quality aligns with brand standards. Partner with Merchandise Planning to support inventory flow, assortment execution, and category performance. Collaborate with Photo Studio and Marketing teams to ensure product assets meet merchandising needs. Project Management & Product ExecutionManages day-to-day execution for the Home & Gift category, including vendor sourcing, development timelines, sample tracking, packaging coordination, and launch readiness. Coordinates product setup, content readiness, and merchandising details to support timely and accurate launches. Tracks product lifecycle milestones, identifies risks, and ensures cross-functional alignment. Omnichannel & Visual MerchandisingTranslate creative and strategic direction into actionable merchandising and operational plans. Partners with Visual Merchandising on in-store presentation, fixture planning, and storytelling alignment. Ensures consistent assortment presentation and launch timing across retail and ecommerce. Reporting, Analysis, & InsightsAnalyzes sales performance and contributes to reporting, recaps, and merchandising insights. Supports process documentation and implementation as the category scales. Gather and synthesize customer and store feedback to inform ongoing category refinement. Support the development and documentation of scalable processes as the category grows. Required Skills/Abilities: Strong merchandising, visual merchandising, and product coordination capabilities. Excellent project management, organizational skills, and diligence and follow-through. Ability to communicate clearly and collaborate effectively across teams. Working knowledge of key retail metrics (sales, margin, inventory turnover). Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint. Strong written and verbal communications skills (English) Customer-centric mindset with a collaborative approach. Education, Experience, and/or Certifications:Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required. Minimum 3-5 years of experience in sourcing and import/export. Experience in merchandising, visual merchandising, product coordination. Experience supporting visual and/or omnichannel merchandising. Experience in Home, Gift, or lifestyle categories preferred. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at computer in an office environment. Must be able to lift up-to 10 pounds at times. Must be able to see, hear, and listen, to communicate effectively. Must be able to travel up to 10%; domestically and possibly internationally. Travel may be needed overnight(s) and weekends as needed.