Associate Merchandiser

About This Role

Develop, communicate, and drive seasonal merchandise strategies for a specific business category, ensuring financial goals are met or exceeded. Partner with various teams to create a compelling product line that satisfies business and customer needs.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the Vera Bradley customer and lifestyle attributes through decision making that supports the business trend and participating in cross-functional and departmental meeting communications
• Plan annual and seasonal product strategies and propose 2-5 year category strategies for areas of responsibility
• Partner with Merchandising Manager and MP&A to develop and deliver seasonal category business plans that meet or exceed revenue and margin goals while maintaining an elevated Vera Bradley aesthetic
• Collaborate with other POD members to deliver accurate and comprehensive weekly, monthly and seasonal analyses of business and ensure future assortments are planned strategically and holistically to maximize opportunities
• Manage multiple categories within a Merchandising POD comprising approximately 60% of the SKU count within Manager’s area of responsibility
• Identify product-driven business opportunities and risks in-season and provide timely direction to business partners, reacting quickly to customer and business trends
• Complete best seller analysis and lead presentation of hindsight meetings
• Deliver compelling seasonal category line plan (SKUs by style/fabric/color) by channel that deliver margin goals and revenue targets—both direct and indirect
• Make recommendations on life cycle of products in categories of responsibility
• Present assortment proposals to sales teams
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of FLEX and marketing products used for selling: Sourcebook, key Account book, catalogs, etc.
• Determine product tests needed, coordinate item development, objectives guidelines, locations, and timing
• Regularly shop and understand the competition and our own consumers to line plan at the appropriate MSRP and wholesale price
• Trend shop regularly to ensure our future assortments reflect the most current trends
• Collaborate with Design to deliver Innovation Pipeline
• Partner with Visual Merchandising and Marketing to compete visual walk-throughs that support financial goals and ensure that key ideas of the season and communicated consistently across channels
• Partner with Planning team to validate seasonal and promotional buys
• Provide mentoring, training, and development of merchant team
• Assist in talent recruitment, performance evaluation, promotion and retention activities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, retail management, marketing or related field, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years merchant, assortment planning or related experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative, while able to influence and persuade
• Strong team player
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Flexible and adaptable to fast-paced environment
• High level of analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Strong aptitude in retail math
• Proficiency in Word, Power Point, and advanced Excel

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, retail management, marketing or related field, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years merchant, assortment planning or related experience

Skills

* Required skills

Benefits