Merchandising & Buying Manager

Since 1973, Vida Shoes International, Inc. has been committed to becoming a global leader in the footwear industry. We are dedicated to designing, producing, and marketing quality branded footwear using our expansive international resources. Our wealth of knowledge stems from the diversity of brands and successful products we have produced year after year.

Vida is looking for a strategic and detail-oriented Merchandising & Buying Manager to own the end-to-end product lifecycle for several of our digital stores—from line planning and buying to site merchandising and conversion optimization. This role plays a critical part in driving sales performance by ensuring we have the right product, in the right place, at the right time, paired with a compelling online shopping experience.

Compensation: $75-95k Annually

Job responsibilities are, but are not limited to:

Product Buying & Line Planning

• Develop seasonal and annual assortment plans based on historical data, trend analysis, and customer insights.
• Identify product opportunities and gaps based on performance, customer demand, and market trends.
• Build and manage relationships with wholesale team and cross functional partners to deliver the best quality product during optimal selling periods.
• Forecast product demand and place buy orders in alignment with inventory targets, sales goals, and budget constraints.
• Own reporting on product, category, and promotional performance to inform future buying and merchandising decisions.
• Track KPIs including revenue, gross margin, inventory turn, AOV, and sell-through.
• Conduct in-season and post-season analysis and identify learnings for future planning.
• Manage SKU lifecycle from introduction to markdown or phase-out, ensuring inventory productivity.
• Collaborate with VP/E-commerce and Planning on replenishment, open-to-buy (OTB), and margin management.
• Partner with operations, logistics, and customer service teams to ensure inventory availability and a seamless post-purchase experience.

Merchandising/e-Comm

• Own the digital merchandising strategy: monthly editorial stories and home page layout for individual websites.
• Comp shop relevant competitor sites and apps for promotional activity, product and navigation opportunities.  Stay on top of current market site trends and technology enhancements
• Develop seasonal merchandising calendars aligned with marketing, promotions, and product drops.  Brief all asset needs in Asana and in person to creative team and graphic designers.
• Own product set up in system and ensure product data accuracy (descriptions, images, pricing, tags) and to help maximize SEO and conversion.
• Maintain PLPs and PDPs to drive optimal conversion and customer engagement
• Plan and execute digital promotions in coordination with VP/E-commerce, Planning and Wholesale teams.
• Work closely with UX partners to leverage analytics to monitor product performance (CTR, conversion rate, units sold, return rate) and adjust strategies accordingly.

Qualifications:

·       Bachelor's degree required.

·       Minimum 5 years of merchandising & buying experience within fashion industry, with proven expertise in trend analysis, assortment planning, and driving sales through strategic product selection; e-comm/omni channel experience a plus

·       Strong verbal and written communication skills; Entrepreneurial spirit and strong problem-solving skills

·       Strong analytical and retail math skills

·       In depth understanding of Open to Buy and financial metrics to drive it

·       Strong commercial product eye, informed by data and ability to identify key market trends and opportunities  

·       Familiarity with Web analytics (Google Analytics) and A/B testing.

·       Ability to work quickly and accurately in a fast-paced environment

·       Experience working in E-commerce platforms, particularly Shopify and/or Shopify Plus is a plus but not required

·       Skilled at managing multiple projects at once and pivot priorities as needed

Thank you in advance for your interest in this opening. Vida Shoes International is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. At this time, only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Direct applicants only, no third-party staffing inquiries, please. #LI-ONSITE