SENIOR MANAGER, PRODUCT MERCHANDISING, Men's and Women's Apparel - Relocation Assistance

Lucchese Bootmaker has been hand making Cowboy Boots in Texas for more than 140 years. Lucchese focuses on getting the perfect boot fitting on every customer’s foot by offering the most unique in-store experience. In addition to Cowboy Boots, Lucchese sells private label and other brand products from America's most-trusted manufacturers. Learn more about Lucchese Bootmaker at www.lucchese.com.

General Summary:

The Senior Manager of Product Merchandising is responsible for developing, buying, and managing the omni-channel product range for men’s and women’s apparel, achieving sales revenue and profit targets.  Reporting to the Director of Product Merchandising, the Senior Manager will build creative, consumer-centric product assortments that are cohesive across categories and the super season while elevating the brand and improving the customer shopping experience.  

The key job requirements are: 

• Develop seasonal apparel merchandise strategies at category and style level across all distribution channels (retail stores, e-commerce, and wholesale).
• Offer the right product in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price.  
• Build cluster buy assortments while accounting for local market needs.
• Negotiate effectively and manage vendor relationships, source new vendors as needed.
• Determine good/better/best optimal price architecture for all categories.
• Communicate key looks and product stories to visual merchandising team quarterly. 
• Present buy plan at quarterly investment reviews to cross-functional teams and leadership.
• Create synergies with footwear and align to the seasonal concept and key colors.
• Prepare and interpret sales data to provide feedback, action plan and recommendations for future launches.  React quickly to maximize opportunities and minimize risks.
• Gather qualitative insights from the retail store teams, customer service and e-commerce team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams: planning, brand, marketing, retail store teams, visual, e-commerce and supply chain/warehouse.
• Partner with the planning team on option counts, initial buys, sizing analysis and inventory plan.
• Execute inter-store merchandise transfers regularly and liquidate old age/slow selling stock.
• Manage OTB and receipts in the pipeline, ensure on time delivery of goods to achieve sales plan.
• Plan assortments for new store openings and pop-up activation events.
• Select and invest in merchandise to be featured in go-to-market digital marketing campaigns.
• Create seasonal product knowledge for retail stores and present at store manager meetings.

Customer Experience & Business Performance Focus:

• Be consumer-centric in everything you do.
• Strong business acumen and extensive knowledge of retail math.
• Act with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Leadership Focus/Steward of the Brand:

• Strong leadership and communication skills, able to influence teams internally.
• Positive attitude and strong work ethic, lead by example.
• Coach, mentor and develop an Associate Merchandise Manager.

Operational Excellence Focus:

• Lead processes and bring solutions to enable seasonal execution and drive efficiencies.
• Prioritize and effectively manage workflow and concurrent projects (store openings and events).
• Hands-on, roll-up-your sleeves mentality, able to work in an unstructured environment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with appropriate sense of urgency.
• Calendar management, especially e-commerce photography process and oversee samples.
• Manage a budget.

Skills & Abilities Required:

• Must have 8+ years of experience in the apparel industry.
• Must have product development, product merchandising and/or retail buying experience with demonstrated success in growing a business.
• Must have knowledge of the western market.
• Prefer product development experience along with existing supplier relationships.
• Prefer contemporary or luxury women’s apparel experience.
• Strong analytical skills, understanding of financial metrics and business development.
• Superior taste level, knowledge of current fashion and market trends.
• Omni-channel Merchant, able to optimize each DTC channel (retail stores and e-commerce).
• Strong communication skills both written and oral.
• Self-motivated and a creative, solution-oriented problem solver.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables), Word and PowerPoint.
• Travel domestically to see stores and for market, up to 20% as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Benefits:

• Hybrid schedule
• PTO – vacation
• Sick and holidays
• 401K matching
• Health career insurance
• Employee discount
• Employee referral program

Relocation Assistance Package available, depending on the candidate. 

Salary: $80,000-$90,000