Merchandise Manager

Position Summary

The Merchandise Manager is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive merchandising strategies that drive revenue growth, maximize profitability, and enhance the customer and fan experience across all retail and e-commerce channels. This role leads product assortment planning, inventory management, pricing strategy, vendor partnerships, and omnichannel merchandising initiatives while supporting the organization's long-term retail growth and scalability objectives.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop and execute merchandise strategies that align with organizational goals, brand identity, fan engagement initiatives, and revenue objectives across retail and e-commerce channels. - Drive merchandise revenue growth through strategic product assortment planning, pricing optimization, promotional strategies, and category management. - Analyze sales performance, customer behavior, market trends, and product profitability to inform purchasing, inventory, and merchandising decisions. - Lead seasonal and annual merchandise planning processes, including forecasting, product lifecycle management, and inventory investment strategies. - Oversee inventory management practices to ensure optimal stock levels, minimize markdowns, improve inventory turns, and maximize gross margin performance. - Manage internal departmental merchandise requests and player-specific merchandise needs, ensuring timely fulfillment, inventory accuracy, and alignment with organizational standards. - Own e-commerce merchandising strategy and execution, including product launches, online assortment planning, site merchandising, promotional campaigns, inventory availability, and customer communications. - Identify and implement opportunities to improve digital conversion, average order value, customer retention, and overall online shopping experience. - Lead matchday retail operations by overseeing staffing, recruitment, training, scheduling, product allocation, and sales execution to maximize event-day revenue and deliver exceptional fan experiences. - Develop and execute retail strategies that optimize matchday traffic flow, product presentation, and customer service standards. - Assist the Director of Merchandising in managing vendor, supplier, and licensing partner relationships, including product development, sourcing, order management, contract administration, cost negotiations, and partnership growth opportunities. - Collaborate with marketing, ticketing, sponsorship, and other cross-functional teams to execute integrated campaigns, special events, product launches, and revenue-generating initiatives. - Monitor and report on key performance indicators, including sales, margins, inventory productivity, e-commerce performance, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. - Provide strategic recommendations to improve merchandise performance, increase revenue, and enhance the customer journey across all touchpoints. - Ensure consistent brand presentation, visual merchandising standards, and customer experience across retail locations, online platforms, and event environments. - Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes while identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies and scalable growth. - Develop and document merchandising processes, systems, and best practices that support long-term organizational growth and operational scalability. - Lead, mentor, and develop part-time and full-time retail staff, fostering a culture of accountability, customer service excellence, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Required: - Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Management, or a related field. - 4+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, retail planning, e-commerce, product management, or a related retail leadership role. - Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting sales, inventory, and customer data to drive business decisions. - Demonstrated experience managing inventory, forecasting demand, and driving merchandise revenue growth. - Excellent organizational, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Preferred: - Experience in sports, entertainment, lifestyle, consumer products, or licensed merchandise environments. - Experience with Shopify and a strong understanding of e-commerce merchandising, digital retail operations, and omnichannel commerce strategies. - Previous supervisory or team leadership experience in a retail or merchandising environment. - Experience managing matchday, event-based, or high-volume retail operations. - Knowledge of merchandise planning, licensing programs, product development, and vendor management.