Regional Merchant
About the role
At Ashley, we inspire the love of home by manufacturing home furnishings. As the world's largest home furnishings manufacturer, we're a family committed to innovation, competitiveness, and excellence. Our solutions-first approach and focus on growth make us the #1 in our industry. We invest in developing future leaders and support each team member's growth.
Responsibilities
Regional Assortment Optimization: Localize national assortments based on regional customer demographics, home styles, and buying behavior. Identify gaps and opportunities, recommend product swaps, expansions, or exits to optimize sales productivity, and ensure assortments reflect local customer needs while maintaining brand consistency.
Store Product Performance Management: Analyze sales performance and trends, identify top and underperforming stores, and 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.
In-Store Product Execution: Conduct monthly store visits and velocity walks, evaluate floor placement, product storytelling, competitive positioning, price perception, and product adjacencies. Provide feedback and recommendations to improve visual merchandising and customer flow.
New Store & Remodel Support: Lead product assortment planning and floor execution for new store openings, relocations, and major remodels. Partner with Visual Merchandising and Store Operations to ensure optimal product presentation and assortment mix. Validate floor sets reflect regional sales opportunities and customer demographics.
Cross-Functional Partnership: Provide regional insight to National Merchandising, Merchandise Planning, Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, Retail Supply Chain, and Retail Sales Department. Partner on assortment performance, gaps, and customer insight for regionalization.
Regional Market Intelligence: Monitor local market conditions and competitive positioning, track competitor strategies, and identify regional customer lifestyle trends and emerging product opportunities. Provide insights that inform national assortment strategies and product innovation.
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
- 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
This position is located in a climate-controlled office environment with standard lighting and moderate noise levels typical of professional workspace settings. The role primarily involves sitting at a desk for extended periods while working with computers, phones, and other office equipment. Interaction with team members includes attending meetings, conference calls, and cross-departmental communications during regular business hours.
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
- 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 to a fee through a signed agreement. Any agency or individual submitting resumes to Ashley Furniture Industries without a previously executed fee agreement is strictly prohibited from submitting candidates for this position or any other positions at Ashley Furniture Industries.