Merchandiser

Johnny Was, LLC At Johnny Was, our mission is to inspire free-spirited optimism through beauty, authenticity, comfort and artistic expression. California Dreaming - the ultimate destination for those who love California and the relaxed modern bohemian lifestyle it embodies. The Merchandiser is responsible for supporting the development and execution of seasonal assortment strategies that drive sales, profitability, and inventory productivity. This role partners closely with Design, Planning, Product Development, Production, Marketing, E-commerce, and Retail to ensure assortments are compelling, commercially relevant, and aligned with overall brand and financial objectives. The ideal candidate is analytical, highly product-focused, organized, and able to translate business performance and customer insights into clear merchandising actions. Position Overview Assortment Strategy & Product Development Support seasonal assortment strategy by category, delivery, fabrication, price point, silhouette, and end use. Partner with Design and Product Development throughout the product creation process to ensure assortments balance brand vision with commercial opportunity. Identify assortment opportunities, product gaps, and areas of over-assortment using historical performance, competitive insights, and current business trends. Help build balanced assortments across core, fashion, and key growth opportunities. Participate in line reviews, investment reviews, buy reviews, and seasonal hindsight meetings. Maintain a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, customer needs, and relevant market trends. Business Management & Analytics Analyze weekly sales, inventory, sell-through, margin, SKU productivity, and category performance. Identify key drivers, misses, risks, and opportunities and recommend actions to improve the business. Monitor performance by delivery, fabrication, print/color, silhouette, price tier, channel, and store group. Partner with Planning to align assortment decisions with sales plans, inventory ownership, and financial targets. Support chase, reorder, markdown, consolidation, and inventory reallocation opportunities. Develop clear weekly and seasonal business recaps with actionable recommendations. Seasonal Planning & Execution Support seasonal SKU plans and assortment architecture. Track seasonal buys and ensure assortments remain aligned to approved strategies and financial goals. Maintain accurate assortment information, product attributes, pricing, delivery timing, and merchandising systems. Partner cross-functionally to ensure product launches and key deliveries are supported appropriately across stores and digital channels. Manage timelines and deliverables against the Go-to-Market calendar. Cross-Functional Partnership Serve as a key merchandising partner to Design, Planning, Product Development, Production, Marketing, E-commerce, and Stores. Communicate business priorities, product opportunities, and assortment changes clearly and proactively. Gather and incorporate store and customer feedback into future assortment decisions. Partner with Marketing and E-commerce to identify key products, stories, and categories requiring additional exposure. Build strong relationships across teams while maintaining accountability to deadlines and business needs. Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience. 4-6+ years of merchandising, buying, or related apparel retail experience. Strong understanding of apparel product, assortment architecture, pricing, and seasonal merchandising. Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into clear business recommendations. Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly cross-functional environment. Advanced Excel skills; experience with merchandising, planning, or assortment management systems preferred. Strong sense of product, customer, and fashion trends. Key Competencies Commercial and product instinct Analytical thinking Ownership and accountability Strong cross-functional communication Strategic assortment thinking Attention to detail Sense of urgency Problem solving Ability to prioritize and execute Collaborative leadership Compensation and Benefits Pay is based on multiple factors, such as qualifications/skills/experience, geography, and state and local wage laws. In addition, bonus and/or commission and benefits including healthcare, retirement savings, paid time off/vacation, and product discounts may be offered. Range for the position is $68,000 - $90,000 All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chan #J-18808-Ljbffr