Bolingbrook
Job Description JOIN US AND "CREATE YOUR VISION" ABOUT US S&S Activewear is a leading North American, tech-enabled specialty distributor of imprintable apparel, including t-shirts, fleece, athletic wear, headwear, workwear, scrubs and accessories. We pride ourselves on being the “critical link” that enables our 100+ brand partners such as Adidas, Columbia and Gildan to reach our hyper-fragmented base of customers, comprised of apparel decorators, eRetailers and promotional products distributors that embellish apparel items for diverse end consumer use cases (e.g., everyday wear, concerts, fitness attire, life events, team sports, etc.). At S&S, we differentiate in the market through a customer service focus, strategic product portfolio, world-class distribution infrastructure, a collaborative growth culture and a relentless focus on technology and innovation. Our success has compounded since the Company’s humble beginnings in 1988 as a regional t-shirt distributor to a leading, multi-billion-dollar value-added distribution platform that drives market penetration for our suppliers while enabling the growth, operations and fulfillment for a diverse range of customers across channels and business sizes. We strive to be the apparel distributor of choice while inspiring and fostering growth for customers, employees and suppliers through our core values of service, deep relationships, innovation, continuous improvement and accountability. ABOUT THE ROLE At S&S our people are our greatest resource - there’s never been a better time to join the team! We are incredibly proud to have a culture cemented in our core values; integrity, customer care, accountability, respect, and excellence. Our talented and diverse crew is filled with inspiring leaders and dedicated peers to best support and channel your purpose, allowing you to bring fresh ideas to the table. The Merchant role will assist the Sr. Director of Merchandising in the execution of a balanced product assortment. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create a cohesive, well-priced seasonal collection positioned to meet sales and merchandising deliverables. This position will heavily utilize customer feedback, Sales staff input, product selling and other trend related data to develop and execute the seasonal assortment plans while driving top-line revenue and achieving strong financial results. Schedule Monday-Friday, Full-Time, Exempt Hybrid or Remote available Hybrid - 220 Remington Blvd Bolingbrook, IL WHAT YOU WILL DO • Collaborate on product launches to ensure timely launch by managing the progression of new style development., • Provide data support as needed to internal and external cross functional teams., • Leverage data and systems support team to refine the assortment brand and by product class., • Review sales performance and market data to create actionable insights that inform the line plan and drive, achieve, and exceed sales plans by Brand and style., • Provide data insights, identify opportunities and risks,make recommendations as needed to Manager., • Oversee, train, and develop a Merchandise Coordinator or Assistant as needed., • Assist in creation of line plan to include product assortment, suggested pricing strategies, product lines, growth opportunities, and product lifecycle transition plans., • Create trend reports and merchandised product presentations for internal and external go-to market support., • Oversee and manage sampling process for new product launches with the Merchandise Coordinator and Assistants., • Provide specific files and product information as requested to Customers and internal stakeholders., • Partner with cross-functional teams in Supply Chain, Compliance, Decoration Operations, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service to support successful seasonal launches and address challenges., • Manage new supplier business plans from birth to launch while partnering with internal and external stakeholders., • 5+ years of experience in a Retail Buying, Merchandising or Merchandising role equivalent, • Prior apparel experience preferred, • Passion for product including prior knowledge of design, product development, and production processes, • Analytical thinker who is excited to analyze data and use Sales and Customer feedback to drive assortment decisions, • Technically savvy, eager to learn new systems, with expertise in Microsoft Excel required, • Enjoys building strong relationships with internal and external partners, • Excellent communicator with strong written and verbal skills, • Motivated by challenge with ability to positively lead through change, • Comfortable taking calculated risks to achieve results The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. Working Environment Currently, S&S has a remote work policy which provides for employees to be in the office Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which is subject to change based on business need. Position location: Bolingbrook, IL. This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions. S&S Activewear welcomes people of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating a diverse culture and supporting human growth. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. We conduct business without regard to sex, race, creed, color, religion, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, military status, status as a veteran, or any other protected characteristic. Our policy is to recruit, hire, train, promote, assign, transfer, and terminate employees based on their own ability, achievement, experience and conduct and other legitimate business reasons. S&S participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. This job offer is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check.