Marketing Web Merchant

About the position

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. With products made in America, Ruger offers consumers almost 800 variations of more than 40 product lines. For 75 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. Our motto, "Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens," echoes our commitment to these principles as we work hard to deliver quality and innovative firearms. Ruger has remained a global leader in offering unparalleled service, innovative technology, and providing peace of mind to our users every step. We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Web Merchant to join our e-commerce team. The Web Merchant will play a critical role in driving the growth and success of our online platform by identifying new vendors and products, optimizing site revenue and profitability, managing the product life cycle, and merchandising products for ease of identification and selection. Additionally, this role will involve providing input on product selection for weekly promotions. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a strong background in e-commerce, product merchandising, vendor management and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Research and identify potential new vendors and products that align with the company's brand, customer needs and market trends.
• Negotiate favorable terms and contracts with vendors to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and product availability.
• Coordinate the hand-off of new vendors to the purchasing team to ensure compliance with company and industry standards and seamless integration into the online platform.
• Develop and implement merchandising strategies to ensure products are easily identifiable and accessible on the website.
• Organize product categories, manage product displays, and create clear and compelling product descriptions and images.
• Collaborate with the design and marketing team to optimize the online shopping experience, ensuring intuitive navigation and product selection.
• Analyze sales data, customer behavior and market trends to identify opportunities for increasing site revenue and profitability.
• Implement pricing strategies, promotional offers and product bundling to maximize average order value (AOV) and conversion rates.
• Work closely with the marketing team to develop and execute promotional campaigns that drive traffic and sales.
• Monitor and manage the product life cycle from introduction to end-of-life, making data-driven decisions on product additions, discontinuations and markdowns.
• Ensure inventory levels are optimized, balancing availability with demand and minimizing excess stock.
• Regularly review product performance, customer reviews and staff feedback and adjust merchandising and pricing strategies accordingly.
• Provide insights and recommendations on product selection for weekly and seasonal promotions, ensuring alignment with customer preferences and sales goals.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create effective promotional content and campaigns.
• Analyze the effectiveness of promotions and adjust future strategies based on performance metrics.
• Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activities and consumer preferences to inform product selection and merchandising strategies.
• Conduct regular competitive analysis to ensure our product offerings and pricing remain competitive in the market.
• Prepare and present regular reports on product performance, vendor relationships, merchandising effectiveness and site metrics.
• Utilize analytics tools to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate directly with the legal staff on local, state, national and international laws governing the sale of restricted products.
• Ensure purchase, possession or usage restrictions are clearly identified as such in all compliance tables, online listings and in sales & marketing materials.
• Clearly communicate restrictions to customers both online and in any interactions, such as during the checkout process or via customer support channels.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, E-commerce, or a related field.
• 10+ years of proven experience in e-commerce, merchandising or product management, preferably within an online retail environment.
• Strong knowledge of online marketing strategies and techniques.
• Proficiency in e-commerce platforms, merchandising tools and analytics software.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make strategic decisions.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail and a passion for delivering an excellent customer experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the firearms and/or outdoor sports market desirable.
• Experience with SEO, digital marketing, and web analytics.
• Familiarity with inventory management and supply chain processes.
• Knowledge of web design and user experience best practices.
• MS Office - strong Excel, Word and PowerPoint