Employment Spot

Job Description

We are looking for an expert in Men's Woven Shirts to join our Men's Retail Merchandising team as a Merchandiser. The Merchandiser is responsible for executing a brand right (customer focused) product mix that will meet or exceed the sales and margin goal for the department/or departments.  Respond to customer feedback, and market trends that will ultimately drive category growth and increase profitability.  Merchandiser is responsible for tailoring an assortment that will optimize the sales of each region, climate, and demographic.

Core Accountabilities:

*         Partner w/ Merchandise Manager to achieve financial goals for the department

*         Execute department business strategies through partnerships w/ MM, Design/Product Development, Planning, Creative Services, Visual, and Marketing

*         Partner w/ Direct counterparts to:

o        Provide direction to Design and Development throughout all stages of assortment development

o        Edit assortment to include style, color, and flow

o        Determining product flow for climatization, region, and demographic

o        Responsible for meeting departmental Pricing/Mark-Up goals, and determining promotional strategies and key product messages

o        Attend all counter sample fittings to help resolve fit and quality issues

o        Responsible for all product trim and detail approvals

*         Work w/ over sea office (EBI) on sourcing of goods to include costing, minimums,  and delivery

*         Responsible for the preparation and presentation of two key seasonal meetings:

o        Business Review and Planning assortment handoff

*         This includes the preparation of all details regarding the assortment to make accurate vendor purchases including style and color ranking

o        Quarterly Postgame

*         This includes key department learning's, future business strategies and a quarterly review of customer feedback

*         Read, analyze and react to current business trends

*         Communicate business trends and selling to key interfaces at Weekly Divisional Selling Meetings, as well as weekly touch base meeting w/ Design, Development, QA, and Engineering

*         Manage and Create Retail Assortment Plan, Item Set-up and Sourcing Programs  for the department

*         Understand the competitive retail environment; proactively seek market knowledge through exposure to the competition

*         Understand product trends, historical data at category level in order to manage in-season opportunities or risks

*         Provide information to develop key concepts, key items, promotional strategies and assortments that are viable and provide an exciting store experience

*         Responsible for sample turn in to visual as well as floorset document proofing

*         Work w/ Marketing on in store signage, and Hang Tag information.

*         Represent Merchandise Merchandisers when not available.

*         Travel Required

Job Requirements

Education/Experience Required:

*         College degree and / or equivalent business experience

*         3+ years in a buying office for a multi-location retail operation, preferably in Menswear

*         Must have the ability to prioritize tasks and balance the immediate and long term needs of the department

*         The ability to communicate and work well in a team environment, as well as on an individual basis

*         A strong knowledge of PC based systems such as Windows, Excel, Lotus, and Word

*         Must demonstrate strong negotiating, listening, verbal, written and presentation skills

*         Must be detail oriented and able to demonstrate a high level of professional maturity and leadership

*         Passionate about the Eddie Bauer customer, as well as have an understanding of the Eddie Bauer customer's wants and needs

*         Must posses a strong eye for product, trend, aesthetic detail and a good sense of color.