LidsU Senior Merchandise Manager

About Our Company

Lids U partners with Barnes and Noble Education managing all aspects of the emblematic general merchandise and hard goods for almost 800 college bookstores across North America. Lids U is a general merchandise company that provides all emblematic apparel, hard goods and backpacks to Barnes and Noble Education’s college bookstores. Lids U strives for excellence by bringing the highest quality of products, range of assortment and at the best prices possible for each of our partners.

 

If you enjoy a fast-paced environment and ever-changing fashion trends, then perhaps this is the place for you. We’re always looking for our next big playmaker, so if you’re ready to lend your expertise to a like-minded company that’s exciting, fun and shares your passions, we want to hear from you.

 

General Position Summary

Reporting to the VP of Buying, the Senior Merchandising Manager is responsible for the purchase and promotion of all product for their department(s) of responsibility. The primary objective for this position is profitable sales and achievement of all departmental financial goals through proper product assortment.

 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and set short-term and long-term merchandise goals and metrics.
• Oversee the development of annual, seasonal, monthly & weekly merchandise plans across Lids and manage buying team that is executing those strategies.
• Manage weekly department level open to buy activities 
• Oversee delegation of priorities and tasks given to team of buyers responsible for executing buying strategy in your designated cluster. Ensure your team is working effectively and efficiently, and staying on track with buying schedule.
• Work closely with store leadership to ensure proper allocation and division of merchandising products. Implement project management tactics to effectively guide and manage team responsible for executing buying strategy to meet these demands.
• Provide expert analysis on trends and recommendations to influence cancellations, future purchases, and assortment strategies. 
• Analyze historic performance to identify areas of opportunity or risk.  
• Prepare preseason promotional and markdown strategy through partnership with buying and merchandising.
• Directs buying to ensure adequate volume/inventory levels, integrity of quality and pricing, and to maximize all aspects of open to buy for the division. 
• Drives merchandise strategies behind business plans; works closely with planning to ensure all product opportunities are pursued and appropriately planned.

 

Additional Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborates with global merchandising and supply chain to ensure that we have the right assortment at the appropriate target costs.
• Provide continuous top tier customer service and support to schools and stores within your cluster. You will be your store’s go-to person responsible for ensuring all client and customer needs are met, and that the allocation of products meets the needs of that school.
• Devises new and innovative business strategies for the division, driving bottom-line and top-line growth.
• Acts as product/market expert on competition and industry trends; works closely with design team to translate knowledge into innovative, relevant business opportunities
• Oversees assortment skew plans and final product selection for the division, ensuring costing goals are met while maximizing item impact and incorporating appropriate penetration of fashion. 
• Ensures brand consistency from design concept to in-store execution. 
• Visits stores regularly to review presentation, stock content/levels; identifies issues and solicits suggestions and comments from field team.
• Works closely with visual and merchandising teams to strategize initiatives and marketing campaigns.
• Ensures the buying department is organized and staffed to meet the objectives of the division.
• Manage career paths, development, and succession plans of divisional buying team.

 

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

• Experienced merchant leader with diversified background in product development, planning/distribution, and visual merchandising
• Prior management experience required; must have experience in successfully developing talent
• 5+ years relevant buying experience, with specific knowledge and expertise in vertical retailing environments
• Must have experience in driving a retail division in merchandising/buying
• Comprehensive knowledge of current fashion/retail trends; ability to introduce innovative business ideas to the team 
• Prior management experience required; must have experience in successfully developing talent

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