Merchant - Dresses & Skirts
About The Position
The Merchant, Dresses & Skirts is a key merchant on J.Crew’s women’s apparel team, responsible for end-to-end product strategy for a versatile category spanning everyday and occasion dressing. The role combines creative vision and analytical rigor, partnering with Design, Planning, Marketing, and Visual to develop assortments that resonate with J.Crew customers. Before each season, the Merchant analyzes trends, sales history, assortments, and competition to shape commercial product ideas and present strategy to cross-functional partners. The role works with Planning on budgets and margin targets, provides design feedback on silhouette, fabric, and color, and builds a design roadmap that specifies monthly newness needs, AUC targets, and carry-forward direction. During the season, the Merchant approves fit on key products and buys, works with Planning and Allocation to review business performance, and uses competitive insights and financial analysis to recommend actions and drive results. The Merchant plans merchandise buys within quarterly budgets, presents assortments and investments for review, and partners with Marketing, Styling, and Visual to elevate key products.
Requirements
- At least 6 years of experience in a merchant or buying role within apparel or fashion retail.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to translate data into clear, actionable strategies.
- Strong business acumen and demonstrated understanding of retail financial metrics and buying principles.
- Self-motivated, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- High taste level, genuine passion for fashion, and an eye for trend-right, commercially viable product.
- Proven cross-functional collaboration skills, with ability to influence and partner across design, planning, and marketing teams.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in dresses, skirts, or other wovens categories, including knowledge of fabrications, silhouettes, and occasion dressing.
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, or a related field is a plus but not required.
Responsibilities
- Analyze trends and translate them into commercial product ideas and seasonal strategy.
- Present pre-season strategy to cross-functional teams.
- Partner with Planning to develop budgets, meet margin targets, and identify departmental opportunities.
- Analyze seasonal and historical business information, trends, product assortments, and competitors to develop strategy.
- Participate in Design Board Reviews and provide feedback on silhouette, fabric, and color based on historical performance and strategy.
- Build the design roadmap, communicating monthly newness needs, AUC targets, and carry-forward product direction.
- Approve garment fit on key products and buys, ensuring execution meets the design aesthetic and commercially acceptable quality standards.
- Partner with Planning and Allocation to review sales, receipts, markdown cadence, and style-color counts.
- Analyze the competitive environment and make recommendations to leadership to positively impact results.
- Plan quarterly merchandise buys within budget using product strategies and analytical results; present the line at assortment and investment reviews.
- Evaluate financial and business indicators, assess reports, and translate data into actionable information.
- Partner with Marketing, Styling, and Visual to ensure key items and major product bets receive cross-functional support.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance for eligible associates and family members.
- Family-planning support, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support.
- Fitness discounts and medical travel benefits.
- Associate discount across J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell.
- Hybrid work model.
- Summer Fridays, with the office closing at 1:00 PM during summer months.
- Philanthropic community support through the J.Crew Cares Program.
- PTO package and an end-of-December winter break for eligible full-time Home Office associates.
- Opportunity for a bonus.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
