Product Development Manager

Punch Studio - Culver City, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Culver City, CA

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

About the position

Punch Studio is a leading Home, Gift & Stationery product supplier for thousands of specialty retailers worldwide. We create high quality, beautifully designed and giftable products that bring delight to people's everyday lives and homes. We are a privately held company headquartered in Culver City, CA looking for passionate leaders to join our growing, vibrant team! Under the general direction of the Director of Product Development & Sourcing, the Product Development/Trend Manager is responsible for managing product development for major key accounts and leading the launch & development of new physical product categories in giftware, stationery, decorative storage, wall decor, etc. Focusing on current market trends and the competitive landscape, the PD/Trend Manager would develop and present trend-right product ideas to the cross-functional teams. Additionally, this role acts as a liaison between the Sales, Design, Art Production, and Purchasing departments to communicate product parameters, advise on particular product specifications, and pricing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and create new product development based on current market trends and customer requests, determining product specifications and target costs.
• Research trends and translate them into new product concepts and formats to offer to accounts.
• Develop expert knowledge of pricing, materials, trends, and developments in new product categories.
• Collaborate with the Sales team to prepare product presentations for account meetings.
• Negotiate with factories using a strong understanding of development costs and manufacturing procedures, working closely with the Purchasing team to secure the best margins.
• Manage quality control of items throughout the approval process, ensuring all product specifications and quality standards are met, and follow through to resolve any issues.
• Work with Sales to establish timelines for each program, defining PD deliverables and securing key due dates with factories.
• Anticipate and identify potential challenges and support the Sales team on all PD-related issues that could cause program delays.
• Work closely with Sales and Customer Service teams to understand customer vendor requirements, managing customer compliance and supporting processes/procedures to meet customer needs and avoid chargebacks/penalties.
• Determine testing/compliance requirements of any new categories and manage test reports and factory audits according to customer-specific requirements.

Requirements

• BFA in Product Design, BBA or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in product development/management including trend research and presentation, costing, product packaging, production, manufacturing, and merchandising.
• Proven track record of managing all aspects of a successful product throughout its lifecycle.
• Wall decor experience is not a must but an interest is necessary.
• Experience working with Off Price accounts is a plus.
• Working knowledge of MS Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of duty rates, testing, and compliance.
• Knowledge of product development process and manufacturing with overseas vendors.
• Ability to think critically and solve problems quickly and efficiently.
• Ability to understand current and future trends and present them to cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively communicate to different levels of management both orally and in writing.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with Off Price accounts is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• Benefits plan including medical, dental, and vision
• Retirement and profit sharing options