Regional Merchant
About the role
At Ashley, we inspire the love of home and are the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings. As a family-driven company committed to innovation and excellence, we invest in developing future leaders and helping every team member learn from the best in the business. 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 such as 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
National Merchandising – Provide regional insight to include future product development and assortment planning
Merchandise Planning – Align on inventory levels, allocation strategies, and demand signals
Visual Merchandising – Ensure product placement aligns with customer flow and storytelling
Store Operations – Support store teams with product knowledge and sales enablement
Retail Supply Chain – Identify supply issues impacting store availability and sales opportunities
Retail Sales Department – Partner on assortment with RSA’s, Store Managers, and Regional Directors regarding assortment performance, assortment gaps as well as customer insight for assortment regionalization
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
Merchandising Judgement
Cross Functional Leadership
Store Execution Excellence
Communication Cross Functionally
Pay
$60,000 - $100,000
Benefits
Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
Professional Development Opportunities
Tuition Assistance
Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
401(k) and Profit Sharing
Lifetime Life Insurance
Our Core Values
Honesty & Integrity
Continuous Improvement
Growth & Results Focus
Culture of Leadership
Customer-Centric & Boundaryless
Operational Excellence
Notice to Search Firms
We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries. Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.