Director of Merchandising, DTC - Full-time / Part-time

BASIC FUNCTIONS

Direct and grow the Lenox DTC channels (Internet, Telemarketing, Affinities, Catalog, Direct Mail, Print Media and Email marketing programs) by developing, proposing and planning new product offers and facilitating the product development process.   Coordinate developmental process with functional areas to include marketing, design, sourcing and planning. Determine the development and merchandising strategies for selection, pricing and promotions to meet organization objectives for sales, margin, inventory turns, and customer service to support the P&L budget goals.  Coordinate design, concept, sales opportunities, sourcing issues and financial requirements to successfully infuse the business with new products for growth.  Translate market opportunities to business growth.    Ensure that the product promotion flow is optimized across all marketing channels.  Direct the development of new products to support the current housefile audience and brainstorm new product to market in the media channel.  Manage and grow direct reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide business direction and general leadership in developing existing and future product assortments – ensure product direction is in line with overall business strategy and gross margin goals as well as marketplace trends. 
• Develop assortment plans.
• Conduct PDP meetings and lead the product development role across functional areas ensuring timely delivery of new product.
• Analyze the costs, set pricing and monitor margins for both new products and cost increases.
• Manage product life cycle by incorporating sales data analysis and monitoring and evaluating consumer and competitive trends to identify new product opportunities and mature product direction. 
• Work with liquidation group to effectively identify excess inventory to timely liquidation. 
• Attend Brief meetings of all new products to Creative Services – provide input into consumer insights, a description of the item personality, creative thought starters, and visual direction.
• SKU creation and maintenance
• Provide direction to direct reports in managing daily development responsibilities and strategies to provide quality and timely communication to marketing.
• Support via knowledge, direction and advice the customer service team.
• Coordinate cross divisional brand strategy and ensure a cohesive message
• Gift Strategy - continue to refine our transition to a more gift-oriented company
• Forecast - Ensure that there is an accurate rolling twelve month forecast by SKU
• Determine # of new products by theme to be developed during the year.  Review product forecast, targeted sale goals, margin, contribution.
• Organize and conduct quarterly brainstorm meetings to determine new product needs.
• Provide direction to determine new products to test in channel
• Review forecasts and determine which existing products should be reordered
• Review ongoing lists of products with inventory shortages, forward lists to planners for forecast input and determine if a reorder should be placed
• Manage the existing assortment with appropriate recommendations for extensions, deletions and new items.
• Attend trade shows and travel overseas

MUST REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10 plus years in direct marketing and/or merchandising, with at least 5 in a supervisory role

·         Previous experience managing P&L

·         Experience in product development and retail merchandising, preferably with both online and offline experience

·         Strong computer skills including proficiency with MS Excel and database experience

·         Ability to handle multiple projects and priorities while balancing workload among support staff

·         Effective oral & written communication skills, presentation skills

·         Energetic & flexible, with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment & a desire to learn

·         Ability and willingness to travel to Asia once or twice per year

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PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

·         MBA

·         Experience in tabletop, giftware, housewares, or other similar industry

EEO M/F/D/V