Job Details
About the Role
The Associate Product Merchandiser, Footwear will become a key driver of a specific business. They are responsible for developing the category strategy, managing the look and feel of the product line and delivering to the financial and efficiency targets of the category. Partner with product managers with overall organization, samples, line planning, product strategy, development process, and launch activities. Evaluate business analysis of product categories as well as develop knowledge of products including current line, upcoming launch seasons, and those in the development pipeline. In this position you will be trained to be a key driver of a specific business responsible for developing the category strategy, managing the look and feel of the product line and delivering to the financial and efficiency targets of the category.
You ll Make a Difference By
- Responsible for managing a category subject to review of the category lead
- Making decisions for the category subject to review and approval
- Developing footwear product line vision and strategy that integrates with the overall long-term vision for the ARIAT brand
- Identifying market opportunity for Ariat in various market segments
- Taking primary responsibility for maintaining and updating all merchandising-related documents utilized by the product manager
- Taking lead in managing product samples for the Product Manager
- Partnering with PM team with pricing, margin-related initiatives and accuracy of all printed & online materials
- Handling packaging for the Product Manager
- Overseeing product assortment and support with marketing and tradeshow coordinators
- Gathering market data via selling reports, industry publications, events, and shows to help identify and expand on Ariat market opportunities
- Supporting Product Manager in creating the strategy to present to product teams including: product boards, focus groups, event participation, competitive pricing analysis, and customer profiles
- Participating in product brainstorms and assist in set up of project list and briefs in support of project list
- Presenting product to various groups of company VPs and sales team members
- Performing market research of various brands both western and mainstream keeping a pulse on western brand launches and brand sites
- Be the centric & SAP master- support PM on all centric and SAP requirements
- Collaborating and help articulate target consumer demographics, psychographics and how Ariat footwear will fulfill unmet needs
Product Line Planning:
- Collaborate and help create and manage seasonal merchandising plans and manage projects through the development process.
- Partner with seasonal market research and brainstorming
- Partner with seasonal merchandising plans
- Partner with seasonal creative product briefs
- Partner with PM with management of line reviews, pre-lines/market feedback, final line decisions and launch plans.
Marketing:
- Responsible to deliver data for packaging, hangtags, catalog, web site, and B2B
- Coordinate with Product Manager to ensure product is correct and available for photo shoots requirements
- Partner with Product Manager with prep for sales meetings, events, and customer visits.
- Manage requesting and accuracy of Product Sell Sheets.
Sales Support:
- Contact Sales Reps for follow up on product meetings
- Attend pre-lines on an as needed basis
Business Management:
- Analyze each season s selling by style and color as well as channel distribution.
- Partner with Product Manager to identify close out or phase out opportunities and plan lifecycles of product
- Complete weekly and monthly analysis on bookings
About You
- Bachelor s degree or equivalent work experience required
- Adapts quickly to change and growth
- Maintains a professional and collaborative work environment with others
- Requires problem-solving skills through gathering information and feedback from management and team members
- Ability to multitask and adjust to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Possesses and executes exceptional organizational and communication skills
- Exhibits exceptional writing skills
- Works within a collaborative Team Environment
- Maintains Exceptional Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking and strategic planning needed to execute Principal Duties of position
- Complies with company policies and procedures
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel
- Knowledge of English riding a plus, but not necessary
- Interest in product merchandising and fashion preferred
- Detail-oriented
About Ariat
Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.
The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $78,000 per year.
The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
Ariat s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
- Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
- Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
- 401(k) with company match
- Bonus incentive plans
- Team member discount on Ariat merchandise
Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.