Assistant Merchandise Manager-Packaged Gifts

Major Responsibilities

• Support product development, internal and external; assortment planning; and profitability goals of the department providing timely analyses and accurate reporting.
• Independently manage an area of the business; lead assortment planning, pricing, cost negotiations, and all channel placement through the entire product lifecycle.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate actions to remove low contributing products from the assortment.
• Ensure company and vendor deadlines are met through timely communication and asset acquisition (photo samples, product information, enclosures, product tasting samples).
• Partner with inventory management team to assure that products are delivered in a timely manner to minimize out of stocks and lost sales.
• Manage all system requirements, including assortment planning, item set ups, product information, price changes, others as needed.
• Track and evaluate expiring merchandise; prepare recommendations for appropriate action to resolve immediate issues and eliminate expiring product in the future.
• Participate in product tastings to determine placement in the assortment and/or to change product for production efficiencies.
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of key competitor’s product and promotional trends and best merchandising practices in catalog, online, and direct marketing channels.
• Affiliate with vendor relationships and external partner communication.
• Update job knowledge by participating in conferences, trade shows, and educational opportunities as appropriate; reading professional publications; maintaining professional networks.