• Own and lead merchandising strategy for newly awarded accounts, ensuring alignment with the commercial vision, pricing architecture, and margin commitments established during the sales process.
• Translate RFP strategy and client commitments into scalable assortment architecture, defining SKU strategy, pricing tiers, margin targets, and long-term growth pathways.
• Analyze historical sales reports, transition inventory data, and prior SKU performance to inform assortment decisions, minimize financial risk, and optimize continuity during program migration.
• Conduct comprehensive research on brand positioning, competitive landscape, consumer segmentation, and industry dynamics to shape initial product direction.
• Establish foundational product standards including decoration guidelines, quality thresholds, vendor strategy, and compliance expectations.
• Validate costing structures, pricing logic, and margin integrity prior to launch; proactively identify risk and course-correct.
• Collaborate with Category Merchants and Sourcing to influence vendor selection, negotiate costing, secure production timelines, and protect profitability.
• Develop strategic product presentations in collaboration with Creative that clearly articulate curated assortments, innovation, and pricing strategy, ensuring alignment with the client’s brand and business objectives.
• Align closely with Business Development and Account Leadership to ensure seamless continuity between what was sold and what is launched.
• Lead complex domestic and overseas product development initiatives to meet brand, quality, and financial objectives.
• Oversee decoration standards, product specifications, and quality expectations to maintain brand consistency.
• Ensure SKU setup accuracy, product data governance, art asset organization, proof approvals, and sample validation.
• Manage and approve final product details, e-commerce copy, imagery, specifications, and size architecture to ensure brand alignment and accuracy.
• Partner with Implementation Program Management to build detailed workback schedules and hold cross-functional teams accountable to launch milestones.
• Align with Inventory and Operations teams to ensure onboarding, forecasting accuracy, fulfillment readiness, and risk mitigation.
• Document assortment rationale, pricing strategy, and vendor decisions to ensure seamless transition to ongoing merchandising & account management.
• Identify early optimization levers that position accounts for margin expansion and sustainable growth post-launch.
• Drive process refinement and contribute to scalable implementation standards that improve speed-to-market and operational efficiency.
• Mentor and support junior team members involved in implementation activities.
• Demonstrate leadership through action by stepping into executional details when needed, removing roadblocks, and personally driving deliverables to ensure successful and timely launch outcomes.
