Associate Regional Merchant- Women's Second Layers (Emerging Talent Role)
Lululemon
Who we are
lululemon is a yoga-inspired technical apparel company up to big things. The practice and philosophy of yoga informs our overall purpose to elevate the world through the power of practice. We are proud to be a growing global company with locations all around the world, from Vancouver to Shanghai, and places in between. We owe our success to our innovative product, our emphasis on our stores, our commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we get to make in every community we are in.
About this team:
The Merchandising team creates and executes transformative global product strategies that ensure we have the right assortment in the right place at the right time to fulfill our guests’ unmet needs to deepen our guest relationships, grow our brand and deliver on our long-term enterprise goals. We possess deep awareness and intuition of global marketplace dynamics and regional guest needs and use this knowledge to identify opportunities to maximize guest demand.
A day in the life:
The Associate Regional Merchant is responsible for delivering region-specific insights to the Global Merchandising team to inform product strategies. With guidance and collaboration from the Senior Merchant and Manager, the Associate Merchant builds out and manages their strategies and assortment plan for a small sub-class of styles or category. This is inclusive of financial goals, metrics, local product, cultural and guest insights, to service their regional market needs. They are an analytical thinker who, in collaboration with the Senior Merchant and Manager, can balance foresight, insight and hindsight to draw critical business conclusions. They work closely with Senior Merchants, Merch Managers and cross-functional partners throughout the product lifecycle for in-season execution and management of their product category through weekly business analysis, corresponding actions, open-to-buy and product exit. They are also responsible for accurate data entry and maintenance of the styles they manage. This person is on the career growth path to be developed into a Regional Merchant.
Share Regional insights (guest, products, market trends) with Global Merchandising, informing product strategies and regional style needs to deliver against regional sales goals
Deliver Regional merchandising strategies and omni channel approach for the season (department and class), for a small subset of styles or categories
With guidance from their Manager and Senior Merchant, create product assortment that reflects brand consistency and regional relevance, maximizing profitability and sales across product class, key items and channels
With guidance from their Manager and Senior Merchant, manage Class assortment and clustering, ensuring delivery against capacity targets and guest profiles
Identify fast turn style needs to round out regional assortment needs and brief to global merchandising
Collaborate with Planning to execute seasonal regional buys against global product and financial goals
With guidance from their Manager and Senior Merchant, create Visual assortment view for region
Support Merchants and Senior Merchants in preparing decks for Buy Reviews (incl. strategies, attributing, investments, flow, etc.)
Validate buy accuracy, and with support from Manager and Senior Merchant resolve MOQ issues, partnering with Global teams to ensure Buy Ready issues are solved
Complete sizing tasks, selecting comparable styles and sizing packages
Throughout each buy cycle, partner with VM, Digital and Store Planning to inform and execute against initiatives and regional strategies.
Prior to and in season, with guidance from Manager and Senior Merchant identify changes to targeted in-store date and recommend options to maximize seasonal product flow
Support in OTB conversations and align with Planning on Class targets on key actions
Review business each week/month/season, delivering recaps and actions based on insights and inventory composition
Responsible for maintaining accurate data entry and integrity of the styles they manage
Qualifications:
BA, BSc, BBA, BComm (or equivalent), specialization in Retail or Merchandising Management an asset
Minimum two years of Merchandising or Regional Buying experience preferred
Proficient in Microsoft Office Program and mastery in excel, preferred experience in PO and Price Management software
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
Strong understanding of retail mathematics and open to buy
Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
Strong understanding of season-to-season business performance
Preliminary understanding of business drivers based on key financial indicators, in order to make recommendations to maximize business opportunities, with guidance from Manager and Senior Team Members
Acute eye for product and colour trends
Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
Ability to enroll, lead and influence key cross functional partners
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and demonstrative ability to present to peers and leaders
Ability to accurately and efficiently manage data entry and highly organized with a keen eye for detail
Ability to multitask and operate in a fast-paced environment
Willingness to travel (domestic and international) and work on the retail floor
Must haves:
Acknowledges the presence of choice in every moment and takes personal responsibility for their life.
Possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovates to achieve great results.
Communicates with honesty and kindness and creates the space for others to do the same.
Leads with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
Fosters connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
Integrates fun and joy as a way of being and working, aka doesn’t take themselves too seriously.