Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development

Are you a creative and strategic thinker, have impeccable taste, and possess an eye for compelling and differentiated product design? The Vice President of Merchandising and Product Development is responsible for leading and executing the strategic vision of original, unique, and compelling furniture and lighting categories. This role requires a combination of creative insight, market awareness, and strong leadership skills to drive the development, selection, and merchandising of products that align with the company's goals and resonate with target customers. This role will collaborate across the organization to drive the design process, contribute to an innovative product portfolio, and develop market-leading product solutions to competitively position the company in the home furnishings industry.

Who We Are

Gabriella White is home to our family of brands - Gabby, Summer Classics, and Wendy Jane. We are growing in all areas of the business and are proud to be family-owned and operated since 1987. Together, we furnish life's best moments, from the every day to the exceptional. We are united by our vision as well as our collective spirit and our culture is shaped by our core values: Dedication – Enthusiasm – Synergy – Integrity – Goal-Oriented – Nimble, or simply put, DESIGN.

As a premier innovator, manufacturer, and retailer of luxury furniture and accessories, our brands are loved by designers and design-minded consumers for creating timeless outdoor living and transitional, eclectic furniture and accessories for every part of the home. We’re always looking for talented people to join our team and grow together.

What We Offer

• Competitive health, dental, and vision plans
• Company-paid short and long-term disability plans
• 401(k) plan with match after 12 months
• Employee Assistance Program and Chaplain Services to support mental and emotional well-being
• Paid sick, vacation, holidays, and paid parental time
• Annual incentive opportunity
• Generous Employee Product Purchase discount

What You Do

• Develops and executes the overall merchandising and product development strategy for the company.
• Collaborates with executive leadership to align product strategies with the company's business objectives.
• Leads the end-to-end product development process, from ideation to production, ensuring innovative and market-driven offerings.
• Analyzes market trends, competitor offerings, and customer feedback to curate a compelling assortment of furniture, soft goods, and lighting products.
• Presents new collections to leadership and internal teams.
• Serves as curator and creative eye for all product development.
• Manages product lifecycle and assortment planning to optimize sales and profitability.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and operations, to ensure seamless product launches and promotional activities.
• Leads the design team to bring innovative and aesthetically pleasing products to market.
• Develops and manages the budget ensuring financial targets are met.
• Monitors and analyzes sales performance, making data-driven decisions to enhance profitability.
• Identifies assortment opportunities based on brand sales analysis, emerging trends, customer needs, and competitive research.
• Executes and oversees the creation of mood boards, concept development, technical sketches and details, visual renderings, specifications, product reviews, and quality control documents that are clear and actionable.
• Manages the holistic process intimately and interactively to perfect the frame, pattern, scale, shape, and comfort of the product before samples being produced.
• Collaborates with the sourcing team to identify materials and manufacturing capability needs, having a working knowledge of various material types, finish compositions, and their unique properties.
• Collaborates with international suppliers and provides real-time feedback on samples to ensure an efficient product development process.
• Fosters strong relationships with suppliers and manufacturers to facilitate efficient product development.
• Negotiates contracts and terms with vendors to secure favorable agreements for the company.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with suppliers to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery.
• Actively problem-solves and seeks solutions by working across the organization to ensure product quality and safety from inception through commercialization.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to the merchandising and product development teams.
• Fosters a collaborative and creative work environment, attracting and retaining top talent.
• Builds, coaches, and mentors an internal culture and team focused on elevated design, creativity, innovation, and product quality.
• Manages team priorities and aligns timeliness of deliverables across internal resources and external partners.
• Travels to applicable shows and fairs annually to identify emerging trends and design inspiration.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in design, product development, business, merchandising, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in furniture, upholstery, soft goods, and/or lighting design required.
• 5+ years leading and managing a team required.
• Demonstrated ability to drive product innovation and successfully bring products to market.
• Strong understanding of market trends and consumer behavior in the home furnishings industry.
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing furniture, upholstery, soft goods, and lighting including but not limited to production, engineering, CAD, materials, fabrications, hardware, and packaging.
• Proven experience in merchandising and product development, with a focus on furniture, soft goods, and/or lighting.
• Strong ability to sketch and produce visual representations using Adobe Creative Suite or applicable technologies.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Exceptional negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with navigating project workflows systematically.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and pivot seamlessly as necessary.
• Creative and critical thinker with attention to detail.