Follain leads the movement toward healthier personal care by curating only the best (healthy, proven, pure, pleasing) products on follain.com and in a growing number of stores across the country. Together we’re making widespread change in the wildly unregulated and unhealthy beauty industry. We’re currently building a whole new Follain experience – online and in-stores. Want to be part of our mission to change the world?
Follain is seeking a relentlessly curious, customer-obsessed, solutions-oriented Merchant as a key business partner in the merchandising organization. You will partner closely with internal leaders and our vendors to help design and drive product sales and exponential revenue growth, all while using heavy data analysis.
As our Merchant, you will be responsible for developing forecasts and working to successfully hit those goals. We are looking for someone creative enough to collaborate across departments and with the vendors to develop and execute programs to drive sales. You will have strong relationships with our vendors, great communication skills and be excited to collaborate with the team.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Do thorough analysis of current season selling data to inform future merchandising strategies.
- Track production dates and execute strategy for product launches and any late deliveries that may impact business.
- Communicate relevant product information clearly to Creative, CX, Retail, Merch and Marketing partners.
- Coordinate product launch initiatives across departments (trainings, social, photoshoots, possibly events).
- Maintain full ownership of product catalog system including integrity of copy, cost, retail, product tags, categorization and image.
- Manage creation and updates of product matrix. Create a visual tool for team.
- Compile and analyze weekly sales and inventory reports and work with Merch to identify sales opportunities.
- Analyze product and brand sales, trends and productivity results to plan for the following month.
- Work closely with vendors on projections and sales goals. Concept, implement and drive programs cross-functionally to hit sales goals.
- Maintain and share competitive landscape, pricing and product matrix reports to influence buying decisions.
- Own seasonal competitive pricing analysis.
- Stay up to date on market trends, regularly providing competitive analysis to merchandising team.
- Work with merch team to achieve IMU goals, participate in cost discussions on deliveries and other vendor related matters.
- Report and assess returns data and customer feedback. Incorporate any flags into future merch decisions.
- Report on relevant analytical assignments as requested.
- Partner with merchandising team to develop and propose seasonal SKU count and support development process with a strong understanding of business needs, current trends, and internal margin goals.
What We’re Looking For:
- Strong knowledge of product merchandising and assortment planning
- High knowledge of Excel (v-lookups, pivot tables, complex formulas)
- Strong analytical & retail math skills.
- Organized “doer” with an exceptional ability to multitask, take initiative, own, and execute projects.
- Solution-oriented critical thinker with the ability to balance multiple projects and navigate occasionally competing priorities.
- Exceptional organizational skills with a robust understanding of process.
- Ability to problem solve, balancing thoughtfulness and a sense of urgency.
- Stellar attention to detail, understanding the importance of accuracy and thorough completion of tasks.
- Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships and partnerships.
- Willingness to openly express opinions, even when different from others.
- Flexible/adaptable to work in a highly collaborative start-up environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Background and Experience:
- 3+ years of merchandising/buying/analytic experience for a vertical retailer or
- wholesaler; beauty experience a plus
- Experience with consumer facing digital/ecommerce business preferred
- Experience with an early to mid-stage start-up preferable
- Bachelor's degree