Merchandiser - Hard Goods

Li & Fung•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Merchandiser supports customers and overseas sourcing teams throughout the product development cycle, from initial concept through shipment. The role ensures accurate and timely product execution and requires strong collaboration across teams. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, with strong communication, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills, as well as professionalism and a commitment to quality.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in merchandising, business, or a related field.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.
Minimum 3–5 years of merchandising, product development, or sourcing experience.
Ability to communicate and interact effectively with cross-functional and global teams.
Ability to multitask, anticipate deadlines, and meet them.
Highly motivated, detail-oriented, and punctual, with the ability to solve problems independently in a fast-paced, time-critical environment.
Knowledge of textiles or other materials used to create products in the relevant categories.
Proficiency in Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Flat sketching and CAD capability.

Responsibilities

Act as a liaison between the customer and overseas sourcing teams.
Research, identify, and analyze market trends and product categories to help drive sales and propose new items to the customer.
Obtain quoting information, costs, and samples from overseas teams; purchase necessary samples and send them overseas for costing.
Work with sourcing teams on product details and cost design to meet the customer’s pricing strategy and help secure sales.
Upload data and documents into the customer’s system and submit supplier samples by deadlines.
Own pre-costing calculations for new items to ensure profitability.
Complete new item proposal forms and retail comparisons for all businesses.
Manage factory compliance forms for each order and communicate with compliance teams.
Maintain key dates on the production calendar from product concept through order shipment.
Oversee workmanship, quality, and fit processes for relevant orders.
Own the approval process for lab dips, print strike-offs, and trim details for textile-related products.
Communicate customer approvals and changes to overseas sourcing teams and suppliers.
Manage the QA testing process for all businesses.
Work directly with the customer’s QA team on testing guidelines, failures, retests, and achieving passing results within designated timelines for running orders.
Own the artwork and packaging process from design through completion, including photography.
Provide clear direction to the graphic artist on initial artwork.
Schedule and manage photoshoot model selection, location shoots, and photo edits.
Work directly with the customer on packaging approvals and revisions.
Send artwork files to overseas sourcing teams within production timeline deadlines.
Manage packaging sample submissions and approvals after suppliers send prototypes.