Merchant, Strategic Sales

who we are
lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

**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 Strategic Sales Merchant is responsible for delivering program specific insights to the Global Merchandising team to inform strategic sales strategies. This is inclusive of account manager/ partner feedback, channel goals, industry tends/ insights. They are responsible for creating impactful, relevant assortments from our Global Line based on insights and from their designated programs. They are an analytical thinker who can balance foresight, insight, and hindsight to draw critical business conclusions and work closely with cross-functional partners both within the product organization as well as strategic sales department. This individual can adjust the game plan with agility to drive strategy and deliver product intent and program/ channel needs.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Share Channel/ Program insights (guest, products, market trends) with Global Merchandising, informing product strategies and program style needs
- In collaboration with the Manager, develop Program merchandising strategies for the season (department and class) across all activities
- Create product assortment that reflects brand consistency and program relevance, maximizing profitability and sales across product categories and key items
- Manage assortment and clustering, ensuring delivery against country targets and account profiles
- Collaborate with Planning to execute seasonal program buys against strategic sales channel’s product and financial goals
- Supporting with the creation of product look books for the individual programs
- Prepare and present decks for Buy Reviews (incl. strategies, attributing, investments, etc.)
- Validate buy accuracy, resolving MOQ issues and partnering with Global teams to ensure Buy Ready issues are solved.
- Complete sizing tasks, and populating the buy upload tool
- Throughout each buy cycle partner with Strategic Sales Program/ Account Managers to inform and execute against initiatives and program strategies.
- Prior to and in season, identify changes to targeted in-store date and recommend options to maximize flow
- Support in OTB conversations and align with Planning on Program targets
- Review business each week/month/season, delivering recaps and actions based on insights and inventory composition, including exit strategies
- Bring global storytelling to strategic sales team and programs where applicable
- Assist with pre-buys (presentations, order forms, buy roll-ups)
- Merchant, in partnership with the Manager, is responsible for mentoring junior team members. The Merchant should practice learning how to coach, mentor and guide the junior team members to develop skills and build functional expertise.

**Qualifications, Skills and Experience**:

- BA, BSc, BBA, BComm (or equivalent), specialization in Retail or Merchandising Management an asset
- Minimum five years of Merchandising or Buying experience is required. Vertical retail and/or omni channel experience is preferred
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Program and mastery in excel, proficiency in PO and Price Management software
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
- Mastery of retail mathematics, including elements of markup, margin, planning, open to buy and investor productivity
- Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
- Strong understanding of season-to-season business performance and ability to drive business based on key financial indicators in order to maximize business opportunities
- Acute eye for product and colour trends
- Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
- Strong knowledge of regional guest base in order to curate assortment for geographic region
- Ability to enroll, lead and influence key cross functio