Regional Merchant

About the role

At Ashley, we inspire the love of home and are the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings. This role serves as the critical bridge between National Merchandising strategy and in-store customer demand.

Responsibilities

• Localize national assortments based on regional customer demographics, home styles, and buying behavior
• Identify assortment gaps and regional opportunities within core categories like Bedroom, Dining, Motion Upholstery, Stationary Upholstery, and Occasional Furniture
• Recommend product swaps, expansions, or exits to maximize sales productivity
• Ensure store assortments reflect regional demand while maintaining brand consistency
• Analyze store-level sales performance and product velocity trends across the region
• Partner with Merchandise Planning & Supply Chain to adjust inventory allocation and replenishment strategies
• Drive improvements in Sales Per Square Foot, Sku Productivity, Category Mix, and Margin Performance
• Conduct monthly store visits and velocity walks across assigned stores
• Evaluate floor placement effectiveness, product storytelling, competitive positioning, price perception, and product adjacencies
• Provide feedback and recommendations to improve visual merchandising and customer flow
• Lead product assortment planning and floor execution for new store openings, store relocations, and major remodels
• Partner with Visual Merchandising and Store Operations to ensure optimal product presentation and assortment mix
• Validate that floor sets reflect regional sales opportunities and customer demographics
• Provide regional insight to include future product development and assortment planning
• Align on inventory levels, allocation strategies, and demand signals with Merchandise Planning
• Ensure product placement aligns with customer flow and storytelling with Visual Merchandising
• Support store teams with product knowledge and sales enablement with Store Operations
• Partner on assortment performance, assortment gaps, and customer insight with Retail Sales Department

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Merchandising, Business, Retail Management, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field
• 5-10+ Years retail merchandising experience
• Experience in furniture, home furnishings, or big ticket retail strongly preferred
• Proven track record of improving store sales and product performance
• Experience managing multi-store retail environments

Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Customer Insight
• Mercandising Judgement
• Cross Functional Leadership
• Store Execution Excellence
• Communication Cross Functionally

Work Environment

• Climate-controlled office environment
• Standard lighting and moderate noise levels
• Sitting at a desk for extended periods
• Working with computers, phones, and other office equipment
• Interaction with team members
• Attendance at meetings, conference calls, and cross-departmental communications

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values

• Honesty & Integrity
• Continuous Improvement
• Growth & Results Focus
• Culture of Leadership
• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless
• Operational Excellence