Merchandising Manager

About the Role

The Merchandising Manager leads a team within Entertainment Earth's Merchandising Department, reporting to the VP of Merchandising. This role focuses on buying calendar execution, team performance, cross-functional coordination, and operational efficiency. Additionally, the manager serves as the lead buyer for a defined portfolio of vendors, maintaining relationships and driving commercial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Performance Management
  • Manage day-to-day team performance, set clear expectations, delegate effectively, and hold team members accountable.
  • Conduct regular 1:1s, provide coaching, and deliver formal performance evaluations.
  • Partner with VP of Merchandising and HR on hiring, onboarding, and team development.
  • Serve as the first point of escalation for team questions, interpersonal issues, and priority conflicts.
  • Foster a collaborative, accountable team environment supporting individual and collective execution.
• Buying Operations & Planning Coordination
  • Own the buying calendar, ensuring planning milestones, product launches, and vendor deliverables are on schedule.
  • Serve as the primary communication channel between the team and internal departments.
  • Monitor open purchase orders and ensure operations within approved budgets.
  • Partner with VP on assortment strategy, line reviews, and product lifecycle decisions.
  • Ensure product information, pricing, imagery, and merchandising content are accurate and published on time.
  • Communicate product updates, pricing adjustments, and critical information to stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Own the handoff protocol between Merchandising and PO Operations for complete and accurate PO information.
  • Coordinate with Marketing and Sales on product launches, promotions, and catalog updates.
  • Partner with PO Operations and Traffic on inbound order visibility and exception management.
  • Collaborate with Finance on forecasting inputs and inventory planning.
  • Serve as a liaison between Merchandising leadership and internal stakeholders for alignment.
• Vendor Portfolio
  • Serve as lead buyer for an assigned portfolio of vendors, owning the business relationship.
  • Drive sales, profitability, and long-term growth within the assigned portfolio.
  • Negotiate pricing, promotional opportunities, and exclusives.
  • Stay current on industry trends, competitor activity, licensing developments, and emerging opportunities.
• Reporting & Systems
  • Maintain and distribute buying team reporting, including sales performance, vendor scorecards, and category metrics.
  • Ensure team proficiency and compliance in ERP systems; serve as Merchandising subject-matter lead for NetSuite implementation (April 2027 go-live).
  • Drive continuous improvement of merchandising processes, systems, and workflows.
  • Identify and escalate process gaps or system issues affecting buying accuracy or efficiency.

Requirements

• Required
  • 5+ years of experience in retail buying, merchandising, or category management.
  • 2+ years in a people management or team leadership role.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple categories and deadlines simultaneously.
  • Strong vendor relationship and negotiation skills.
  • Proficiency in Excel and data-driven decision making.
  • Experience with ERP or inventory management systems.
• Preferred
  • Experience in licensed products, collectibles, toys, or consumer entertainment.
  • Familiarity with NetSuite.
  • Experience managing buyers in a wholesale or DTC environment.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Marketing, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Skills

• People leadership: builds trust, develops talent, and holds teams accountable.
• Operational discipline: manages timelines, processes, and details strategically.
• Cross-functional communication: communicates clearly and escalates proactively.
• Commercial instinct: understands sales drivers and coaches the team accordingly.
• Adaptability: operates effectively in a fast-moving environment with shifting priorities.