Retail Buyer/Visual Merchandiser

Overview and Primary Responsibility

Danner is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial, and creative minded retail buyer & visual merchandiser to determine appropriate assortments and merchandising for Danner stores, to include owned and 3rd party brands. This position will play an important role in Danner's retail business, which includes lifestyle and full-line store concepts across the Western United States. This person loves a fast-paced environment, will own the process of selecting the assortment, managing inventory, product lifecycle, markdown strategy, profitability as well as visual merchandising. Also, must work well under pressure, and partner with each retail store and corporate staff as needed.

Essential Functions of the Position

Buying & Product Assortment

- Create a balanced assortment in terms of brand, quality, fit, value, style count, and key item depth

- Continually review the assortment to remain on trend, and add freshness

- Blend products from our own brand as well as 3rd party brands including White's boots

- Manage seasonal timeline, sales goals, and profit goals for merchandise assortment

- Manage 3rd party footwear, apparel and accessory assortments working with channel partners

- Champion product training for store staff

Product Development and Designs

- Collaborate with product line managers and marketing teams to create branded 3rd party items to meet channel needs

- Demonstrate understanding of industry trends and make recommendations to aid in the development of product lines

- Generate innovative and creative ideas

- Build relationship with product design and development teams that fosters development of innovative, relevant, on-brand product designs that consider manufacturing limitations, yet push our expectations of quality, lead time, and value.

Merchandising

- Create seasonal and monthly visual merchandising assortment for each store

- Work with in-store merchandisers to create compelling stories that complement marketing's footwear focus each month

- Help rearrange inventory and floor plan to support best shopping experience

Other Functions

- Analyze the business and react with timely reorders and cancellations

- Understand seasonality and minimize markdowns

- Closely work with other departments such as Finance to analyze the sales, margin, and profitability, with Demand & Supply to deliver in a timely manner

- Other duties as assigned by Retail Channel Manager

Position Required

- Strong understanding of industry trends with the ability to translate them into relevant, innovative assortments

- Ability to build an assortment that is brand appropriate and balanced

- Strong market awareness exhibited through knowledge of relevant brands and reference points

- Solid planning skills with experience managing an Open to Buy

- Good analytical skills for budget, sales data, expenses & financial strategy

- Ability to thrive in an agile, constantly evolving environment, and gracefully handle changes in expectations and project requirements as the business learns and adjusts

- Strong business management knowledge with sales/margin responsibility

- A team player with the ability to synergize/work cross-departmentally and with the retail team in order to support overall company goals

- Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced and multi-tasking environment

- Respect all store employees who drive/sustain our retail business

- Strong verbal and written communication skills

- Available to work in retail stores as needed

Education and/or Experience

- Four-Year degree preferred

- More than 5 years' buying branded apparel for a multi-door retailer

- More than 2 years' experience merchandise planning and visual merchandising

- Experience managing department projects, budgets, and timelines

- Retail management experience a plus

- Deep understanding of retail administration and company structure

Work Environment

- Ability to travel up to 30% (including store visits and tradeshow trips) with the other 70% in an office

Tools/Equipment Used

- Computer skills including Microsoft Office applications required

Reporting Relationship

- Position reports to the Retail Channel Manager

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

- Organize and prioritize work to meet deadlines.

- Must be dependable and team orientated.

- Must be willing to conduct oneself in accordance with Company's Core Values.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the essential job duties satisfactorily. The employee in this position must frequently exercise regular use of good judgment and be able to lead others and work with minimal supervision. Employee must be able to lift a box weighing 40 pounds on an infrequent basis.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.