Merchandise & Product Development Specialist

Wild Oak Boutique•Sioux Falls, SD

About The Position

The Merchandise & Product Development Specialist will work directly with our Lead Buyer and our Senior Designer to help determine what products Wild Oak should buy, develop, and launch. This role combines merchandising, trend forecasting, product development, and data analysis. The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, trend-aware, and passionate about women's fashion.

Requirements

2–5+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, planning, product development, retail analytics, or a related field.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Advanced Excel or Google Sheets proficiency.
Passion for women's fashion and consumer trends.
Excellent organizational and project management skills.
Ability to turn data into actionable recommendations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Shopify, inventory planning, or retail analytics tools is preferred.
Experience with apparel, fashion merchandising, or product development is a plus.

Responsibilities

Analyze product performance, sales trends, inventory levels, and customer demand.
Assist in assortment planning and product selection across key categories.
Support buying decisions through data analysis and market research.
Identify opportunities for replenishment, expansion, and new product introductions.
Monitor inventory productivity and sell-through performance.
Partner with the Senior Designer to identify opportunities for private label development.
Research fabrics, fits, washes, styles, and emerging trends.
Help evaluate product concepts, samples, and development opportunities.
Assist with collection planning and product launch preparation.
Provide data-backed recommendations for future product development.
Monitor industry trends, social media, influencers, competitors, and emerging brands.
Identify product opportunities before they become mainstream.
Research pricing strategies, category growth opportunities, and customer preferences.
Present findings and recommendations to leadership.
Create and maintain merchandising reports and product performance dashboards.
Analyze sales, conversion, gross margin, inventory turns, and customer behavior.
Provide actionable insights that improve buying and product development decisions.
Support forecasting and seasonal planning initiatives.