Merchandising Manager, EvoShield Apparel

Wilson Sporting Goods Co.•Berwyn, IL

3d•$110,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Merchandising Manager, EvoShield Apparel will be an integral part of the Commercial Team, working to establish and build the emerging EvoShield Apparel business within the wholesale channel in the USA with a focus on capturing the off-field apparel market for competitive ballplayers. Segments include licensed apparel, lifestyle apparel, and uniform basics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related discipline (advanced degree preferred)
Minimum of 5 years of apparel merchandising industry experience
Deep understanding of the competitive ballplayer and their off-field interests and habits
Great consumer insights – a deep understanding of the habits of our distinct consumers: Competitive ballplayers, age 10-18 that identifies with being a ballplayer as a central tenet in the expression of their sense of self. Recreational ballplayers age 5-12 that are just learning about the sport and acquire the basics at their preferred place of purchase BananaBall™ aficionados of all ages that follow the sport via social media, broadcasts, and at events
Strong analytical and financial acumen
An eye for the apparel market trends for this consumer base, which will be a factor in guiding our product team on how to use our on-field expertise to translate to off-field appeal.
Entrepreneurial spirit – ability to work effectively in a fluid environment and willingness to wear multiple hats, as necessary.
Startup Mindset – ability to recognize and fill the gaps in an emerging business, keeping projects and product lines on task and on time
Resourcefulness – self-directed and always seeking new applications and opportunities.
Collaboration – demonstrated skill in building cross-functional and cross-cultural/international relationships.
Demonstrated business acumen and the ability to apply sound business decisions to growing a global business.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Powerpoint, Word), as well as collaboration/ communications platforms like MS Teams.
Ability to travel domestically and occasionally internationally up to 30% of the time.

Responsibilities

Lead the creation and execution of overall merchandising strategy, product assortment, and financial planning roadmaps to optimize EvoShield’s growth and business unit development.
Define seasonal and long-term merchandising strategies for sales, margin, and inventory turnover to result in product assortments that exceed customer expectations and the business unit’s financial and operational goals.
Evaluate market trends, competitor moves, and consumer insights to uncover new opportunities and guide strategic product assortment and pricing decisions.
Work closely with product design and development teams, production leads, PLM, sales, and inventory managers to create the best possible assortment of products and levels of inventory to optimize our growth and profitability. Optimize production cycles to ideally complement the custom uniform and apparel business.
Develop a meaningful feedback loop with consumers to ensure PLM’s, creatives, and stakeholders are developing for emerging trends at the front end of the cycle.
Partner with supply and demand planners to analyze and manage inventory levels. Channel-right assortments and efficient use of base garments across the business are essential.
Collaborate with the full Omni-Channel organization to determine short- and long-term direction of the product line. Lead and develop in-store merchandising strategies with key customers to ensure our brands show up at their best.
Specifically responsible for wholesale channel pricing, revenue targets, and PGP, product line assortment, introduction of products, launch dates, product life cycle, exit strategies for apparel designed for the retail shopping environment.
Collaborate with key dealers/retailers on seasonal sales opportunities.
Ensure product timelines are in harmony with launch targets and strategies for collaborative decision making.
Other duties as assigned.