Assistant Merchandising Manager
Exempt Position
Reports to: Sr. Product Development & Merchandising Manager

Job Summary:

The Assistant Merchandising Manager is responsible for the strategy and oversight of the product assortment and space management of our customers. This includes the merchandising of products in a retail outlet or at an industry event, managing the design and building of optimal product assortments, point of purchase materials and fixtures. In addition, the manager will oversee analyzing and identify the sell-through trends by channel to create a benchmark resulting in increased sales. The manager will research and develop effective merchandising formats; be responsible for sales analysis, space management and the development of benchmarks for product categories; support tradeshows and manage open house product assortment and logistics. This role will also be responsible for consumer experience research including market surveys, competitive pricing and elasticity, and landscape.

Major Responsibilities:

• Using sales analysis and benchmarking, determine category trends across all sales markets and communicate the information internally and externally. Collaborate with the Sales Directors, Sales Account Managers, Sr. Marketing Manager and Category Managers to create presentations using this data for our customers.
• Conduct account planogram reviews, power ranking reports, recommend optimal product mixes and establish benchmarks for all retail channels.
• Using sales analysis, determine optimal product item assortments and placement for new and existing items in coordination with Sales, Marketing and Product Development. Oversee the creation of kits, planograms, schematics, and content listings. Determine kit methodology and maintain kit consistency.
• Oversee the management of open houses, and support tradeshows and other events product assortment and logistics, which includes the maintenance of the booth, product merchandising, promotions and features at the show, contracts and all logistics.
• Manage consumer experience research by developing market surveys through Vox Capio, lead competitive pricing and product placement analysis and drive recommendations resulting in increased profitability.
• Oversee the development of new displays, backtags and POP for all sales channels. Manage and track display racks and POP inventory and turns. Manage inventory as a percentage of sales to optimize turns. Consult with the Sr. Manager of Product Development and Sr. Manager of Marketing to determine feasibility and proper usage.
• Oversee the development of all merchandising literature including the Best of Book, Merchandising binders, swatches, trunk kits and custom insert strips.

Other:

• Oversee the organization, use and upkeep of the Display Room.
• Will be required to travel periodically for industry events, sales meetings, store sets and resets, and to research new merchandising ideas. This will, at times, require overnight stays.

Note:
This description reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions for the job identified for the purpose of job evaluations. It should not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job nor shall it be construed as giving exclusive title to every function described.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Titles of positions supervised:
Merchandising Specialist

Qualifications:
Skills and knowledge required for this position would generally be acquired with a four-year degree with an emphasis on merchandising and other business-related subjects, retail sales experience with merchandising products and displays, experience with reading and analyzing sales reports and data to manage wall space and establish benchmarks for product categories. A minimum of five years of relevant experience is required.
The manager must be a self-motivated individual with proven management and excellent verbal and written communication skills. It is vital that this person have the ability to work well with internal and external staff and customers in a combined effort to maximize the appearance and layout of company displays and planograms.