VP of Merchandising

About the position

The VP of Merchandising is a key leader on the senior leadership team and serves as the Head Merchant, shaping the vision & strategy for the company's products. The role is responsible for directing and developing merchandising strategies, operational systems, and go-to-market plans to drive financial and business objectives. With a strong focus on product & assortment development, the VP of Merchandising leverages collectibles & numismatic expertise with sales trends data, and market research to build compelling category assortments and optimize price architecture, ensuring alignment with strategic initiatives, seasonal campaigns, and consumer trends. This role collaborates across functions, manages supplier relationships, and identifies opportunities to expand and innovate the product assortment, fostering strong partnerships and favorable business terms to enhance growth and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Establish company merchandising strategies through further development of current assortment and optimization of key categories to achieve financial and operational objectives.
• Establish and maintain measurable performance metrics for margin, pricing, promotions, all stages of the product life cycle while ensuring a keen focus on consistent and continuous improvement.
• Design and implement merchandise plans that align with strategic priorities, seasonal campaigns, and key product launches.
• Own the open-to-buy process, including replenishment forecasting and investment strategy aligned to revenue and margin targets.
• Ensure channels have a healthy inventory in order to drive sales, leading teams to best understand demand based on data and customer insights.
• Establish and refine operational systems to improve efficiency and profitability, with a strong focus on supply chain optimization, demand forecasting, and inventory management to ensure seamless product availability and cost control.
• Oversee pricing strategies to maximize revenue and maintain market competitiveness.
• Partner closely with finance and data team to drive rigorous reporting and analyses for the sake of productivity, growth, and profitability.
• Continuously track and analyze merchandising performance metrics, leveraging data-driven insights to refine strategies and drive optimal sales, profitability, and market responsiveness.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers while identifying and onboarding new partners that provide opportunities for growth.
• Partner closely with channel owners to develop and execute a full commercial roadmap, ensuring cohesive product launches to support product success.
• Negotiate favorable contract terms, ensuring alignment with company objectives and cost efficiencies.
• Lead and mentor a team of merchandising professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand how to create new products, enhance existing offerings, and optimize assortments to align with business objectives.
• Steer our pricing strategy to increase market share and drive sales while keeping a pulse on economic viability and anticipated demand.
• Set departmental goals aligned with broader corporate objectives and ensure successful execution.
• Approve and oversee the development of policies, processes, and systems within the merchandising function.
• Manage a strong customer feedback loop, integrating reviews and insights to optimize new product development.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and consumer behaviors to identify growth opportunities and potential risks.
• Drive innovation in product development and merchandising strategies to maintain competitive advantage.

Requirements

• 10+ years in consumer retail, experience as a senior leader in a merchandising role with a proven track record of success.
• Expertise in merchandising strategies, analytics, and operational systems.
• Extensive experience leading merchandising in luxury retail environments, with demonstrated success driving both profitability and market share.
• Prior experience managing buying, planning, and allocation teams, and understand best practices to maximize sell-through and minimize overstocking.
• Strong business acumen; ability to read and shape a P&L and ascertain necessary changes in merchandising strategy.
• Data-driven, with the ability to tell a story through numbers to make recommendations.
• Experience working with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including marketing, sales, product design, and wholesale buyers.
• Experience in operating in a nimble, fast-paced, high growth entrepreneurial environment.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive innovation and execute long-term plans.
• Proficiency in market research, sales data analysis, and trend forecasting.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA & FSA Plans
• Accidental & Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• AD&D Insurance
• 401(k) Employer Match
• Quarterly Profit Distribution
• Paid Holidays
• 16 Paid days of Personal Time Off