Merchant, Strategic Sales- 12 Month Fixed Term Contract (Los Angeles, CA)

$91,400 - $120,000/Yr

Lululemon Athletica - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Mid Level

Los Angeles, CA

Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers

About the position

lululemon is a yoga-inspired technical apparel company up to big things. The practice and philosophy of yoga informs our overall purpose to elevate the world through the power of practice. We are proud to be a growing global company with locations all around the world, from Vancouver to Shanghai, and places in between. We owe our success to our innovative product, our emphasis on our stores, our commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we get to make in every community we are in. The Merchandising team creates and executes transformative global product strategies that ensure we have the right assortment in the right place at the right time to fulfill our guests' unmet needs to deepen our guest relationships, grow our brand and deliver on our long-term enterprise goals. We possess deep awareness and intuition of global marketplace dynamics and regional guest needs and use this knowledge to identify opportunities to maximize guest demand. The Strategic Sales Merchant is responsible for delivering program specific insights to the Global Merchandising team to inform strategic sales strategies. This is inclusive of account manager/ partner feedback, channel goals, industry trends/ insights. They are responsible for creating impactful, relevant assortments from our Global Line based on insights and from their designated programs. They are an analytical thinker who can balance foresight, insight, and hindsight to draw critical business conclusions and work closely with cross-functional partners both within the product organization as well as strategic sales department. This individual can adjust the game plan with agility to drive strategy and deliver product intent and program/ channel needs.

Responsibilities

• Share Channel/ Program insights (guest, products, market trends) with Global Merchandising, informing product strategies and program style needs
• In collaboration with the Manager, develop Program merchandising strategies for the season (department and class) across all activities
• Create product assortment that reflects brand consistency and program relevance, maximizing profitability and sales across product categories and key items
• Manage assortment and clustering, ensuring delivery against country targets and account profiles
• Collaborate with Planning to execute seasonal program buys against strategic sales channel's product and financial goals
• Supporting with the creation of product look books for the individual programs
• Prepare and present decks for Buy Reviews (incl. strategies, attributing, investments, etc.)
• Validate buy accuracy, resolving MOQ issues and partnering with Global teams to ensure Buy Ready issues are solved
• Complete sizing tasks, and populating the buy upload tool
• Throughout each buy cycle partner with Strategic Sales Program/ Account Managers to inform and execute against initiatives and program strategies
• Prior to and in season, identify changes to targeted in-store date and recommend options to maximize flow
• Support in OTB conversations and align with Planning on Program targets
• Review business each week/month/season, delivering recaps and actions based on insights and inventory composition, including exit strategies
• Bring global storytelling to strategic sales team and programs where applicable
• Assist with pre-buys (presentations, order forms, buy roll-ups)
• Merchant, in partnership with the Manager, is responsible for mentoring junior team members. The Merchant should practice learning how to coach, mentor and guide the junior team members to develop skills and build functional expertise.

Requirements

• BA, BSc, BBA, BComm (or equivalent), specialization in Retail or Merchandising Management an asset
• Minimum five years of Merchandising or Buying experience is required. Vertical retail and/or omni channel experience is preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Program and mastery in excel, proficiency in PO and Price Management software
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
• Mastery of retail mathematics, including elements of markup, margin, planning, open to buy and investor productivity
• Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
• Strong understanding of season-to-season business performance and ability to drive business based on key financial indicators in order to maximize business opportunities
• Acute eye for product and colour trends
• Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
• Strong knowledge of regional guest base in order to curate assortment for geographic region
• Ability to enrol, lead and influence key cross functional partners
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal and demonstrative ability to present to Senior leadership
• Ability to work independently to make sound business decision; and multitask, pivot, prioritize competing tasks and operate in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel (domestic and international) and work on the retail floor

Nice-to-haves

• Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility for your life
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results
• Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same
• Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure
• Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships
• Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn't take yourself too seriously

Benefits

• Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
• Paid time off
• Savings and retirement plan matching
• Generous employee discount
• Fitness & yoga classes
• Parenthood top-up
• Extensive catalog of development course offerings
• People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)