Key Responsibilities
- Build seasonal Canadian specific range plans that maximize our DTC partner needs and the strategic plans of our key wholesale accounts. Ensuring Canadian range aligns with the US range; as well as NAM category growth expectations and sku count projections to ensure article efficiency.
- Price all locally ranged articles to align with USD conversion, ensure we are competitive in the market and hit local margin targets.
- Work closely with the US product teams, providing market insights and feedback to build a best-in-class NAM range and GTM strategy.
- Work with US counterparts to execute in season opportunities: SMUs, Speed, In Season Injections packs to complement range and bring us closer to market.
- Develop and maintain a lifestyle and sporting goods expertise of the Canadian marketplace and consumers; as well as competitors/products that compete in this environment. This includes regular visits to key retailers to flag opportunities in our market/differences to the US market to ensure we remain competitive.
- Develop long term business plans with a focus on key items and franchise models across lifecycles to ensure brand health and growth. Building out allocation plans on key franchises to ensure we are driving sustainable growth and a successful sell out.
- Ensure all samples are ordered, organized and merchandized for key milestone meetings.
- Build and present the GTM category plans to Canadian stakeholders in Sales & DTC. This includes building and maintaining all sell in tools for the market and presenting the range to both internal and external teams.
- Work closely with Marketing Communications to ensure product highlights and key brand messages are aligned and brought to market.
Key Relationships
- US Category and Marketplace Merchandising
- DTC & Ecom – both local and US based
- Canadian Wholesale Sales team
- Key external retail partners
- Brand Operations
- Brand Communications
- Sports Marketing
- Finance
- Demand Planning and relevant SCM partners
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite and working with systems/applications
- Strong presentation and communication skills, written and verbal
- Ability to work within a team environment
- Strong process and organization skills
- Ability to travel both domestically and internationally as needed
- Strong business acumen in channel distribution, net sales, margin, profit and inventory
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work with and collaborate across the organization
- A thorough understanding of customer markets and trends
- Category specific understanding preferred
- Strong analytical and planning skills
Minimum Qualifications
- Four-year college or university degree, preferably in Business/Merchandising or related field preferred; and
- Minimum three (3) years industry related experience
- Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree.
- Previous merchandising experience in the sporting goods industry preferred.
*We officially returned to office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote. The working location of this position is Woodbridge, Ontario.