G/FORE Sr. Director, Merchandising

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

Born in Los Angeles but bred with a global perspective, G/FORE was conceptualized with a passion for modern design combined with a love of golf. Distinguished by our attention to detail, sophisticated ease, playful nature, youthful energy and sense of humor. We consistently strive to make a powerful and colourful impact on our favourite game. We take inspiration from art, architecture, modern design, and colourful narratives. Our intent is to disrupt the industry without being disrespectful to the sport and its rich traditions.

The role is responsible for the development of all merchandising strategies for DTC and Wholesale. Working closely with the Design and Planning teams, this position helps to identify the product line plan vision and leads the line planning process in order to achieve or exceed annual financial goals. They share a responsibility with Product Design to ensure product lines are brought to market in a timely manner and in accordance with the line plans and production calendars.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop a comprehensive merchandising strategy, forecasting and reporting by:
  • Silo, category, SKU, price points, marketing strategy
  • Based on selling data, customer analytics, category dynamics and market trends.

• Manage analytics regarding sales & product performance in partnership with Planning team; ensure a formalized and regular feedback loop to Design team to inform future season design strategies.
• Brings customer and market prospective to the design team. Thoroughly understands the brand's target customer by tracking trends.
• Identify opportunities / trends to inform design and future season planning.
• Identify trends which are not working and use that information to drive marketing, sales strategies and/or future design and purchasing decisions.
• Evolve product line architecture as needed and develop pre-season range plans that tie to topline strategies and offer guidance on channel segmentation.
• Working closely with Design team, digest qualitative feedback directly from sales teams and combine with analytics to package that feedback into proposed strategies to inform SKU planning/assortment.
• Create short- and long-term product assortment strategies in partnership with Design, Marketing and Commercial teams that align with brand vision, financial plan targets and customer experience goals.
• Ensure Planning and Production / Sourcing teams are well informed throughout the process to facilitate logistics planning and production needs.
• Lead development of competitor consumer insights to identify pricing and product opportunities and consumer elasticity.
• Lead and manage Merchandising team to represent business needs
• Collaborate with team to ensure that financial objectives align with product opportunities.
• Lead competitive analysis on SKU assortment by channel and pricing and use this information to help inform future season planning. Supply pricing matrix / suggestions to Design based on this competitive analysis.
• Ensure clear feedback loop with Planning & Finance regarding margin implications based on agreed upon assortment / OTB.

COMPETENCIES:

• Candidate must be able to demonstrate skills in the following areas:
  • Presenting and recommending strategies and building a business case
  • Leading and developing merchandising teams
  • Strategic forecasting for an omnichannel business
  • Influencing and negotiating at a variety of levels
  • Well-developed written and verbal communication skills including presenting complex material in an organized and compelling manner
• Be an inspirational and innovative merchant leader

DESIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years of Apparel Product Merchandising experience
• 5+ in managing teams
• Preferred experience in wholesale and/or specialty retail; golf industry experience a plus
• Previous experience in Merchandising, Buying, and/or Product Development for apparel is strongly preferred.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Peter Millar & G/FORE are equal opportunity employers. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. Both Peter Millar & G/FORE prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and they afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, genetic information, marital status, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Both Peter Millar & G/FORE comply with applicable state, county and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.