Evolve Outdoors was founded in 2002 to create the highest performing hunting & fishing apparel imaginable. With our two brands – Hunters Element & Desolve Supply Co – we're now NZAU’s leading hunt / fish apparel business and growing fast, with our hearts set on transforming the global specialist hunting & fishing apparel industry for good.
Our goal is to build the world's most sustainably innovative hunting & fishing apparel business by designing and making the highest-performing, longest-lasting, specialist hunt / fish gear, while striving to reduce our environmental impact to zero.
Role Purpose
The Merchandiser is responsible for managing the end-to-end product lifecycle for both Hunters Element and Desolve Supply Co., ensuring seasonal timelines are met, and optimising category performance through data-driven decisions and deep product knowledge. This role aligns product assortment with consumer demand and business objectives, supporting growth and profitability.
Scope of Role
- Product Lifecycle Management : From concept to end-of-life, including seasonal launches and exit strategies.
- Category Management : Develop strategies to maximise category performance and align with market trends.
- Demand Planning : Forecast Global Demand accurately and work closely with business planning to manage inventory and minimise stock-outs and excess.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration : Work with product design, marketing, and sales teams to deliver cohesive seasonal assortments.
- Key Stakeholders : Product Design & Sourcing, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain & Business Planning.
Key Responsibilities
Develop, plan and manage the product category and assortment strategy for both Hunters Element and Desolve.Document range strategies, assortments and design briefs.Manage category performance by :Setting revenue targets per season at category / range level
Reviewing health of range, setting range size, SJ+KU growth and discontinuation targets at category levelUsing sell-in data to validate and adjust current strategySeek feedback from key accounts and markets.Manage seasonal calendars, ensure adherence to key milestones and deliver on-time product launches across multiple brands, channels & countries.Stay ahead of industry trends and competitor analysis, including retailer activity, consumer behaviours, product innovation and regulatory changes.Oversee market adopt and go-to-market execution. Sell the ‘why’ internally.Drive the product roadmap.Identify growth opportunities and rationalise and phase out underperforming SKUs.Provide insights to marketing and sales teams to support campaigns, promotions and sell-through.Analyse sales, margin, and inventory data to optimise assortment and pricing to achieve Evolves commercial objectives.Develop demand forecasts and monitor inventory levels, in collaboration with Business Planning team.Measure and drive SKU productivity factoring in MOQ’s & price volume breaks.KPIs & Performance Metrics
Sell-through Rate : Achieve targeted sell-through % for seasonal assortments.Inventory Turnover : Maintain optimal inventory turns per category.Forecast Accuracy : Achieve demand forecast accuracy within agreed %.Margin Performance : Deliver category margin targets and profitability goals.On-Time Seasonal Launch : Adherence to seasonal calendar milestones.SKU Productivity : Improve productivity per SKU (sales per SKU).Stock-Out & Excess Inventory : Maintain stock-out rate and excess inventory to agreed % targets.Commercial Acumen : Make recommendations and decisions that drive profitability and align with market dynamics.Product Knowledge : Develops deep product, market and channel knowledge through both data and real-world engagement.Customer Empathy : Takes a customer-focused approach, building understanding of the niche tribes in our customer group.Analytical Thinking : Use data to identify trends and inform strategies.Collaboration : Work effectively across teams to achieve shared goals.Adaptability : Respond positively to changing priorities and seasonal demands.Attention to Detail : Ensure accuracy in forecasting, reporting, and assortment planning.Communication : Clearly convey insights and recommendations to stakeholders both in writing and in meetings and presentations.Proactive Mindset : Anticipate challenges and take initiative to resolve them.Target Driven : Experienced, motivated and successful at working to targets and KPIs. Takes ownership for performance.Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Merchandising, or related field, or significant equivalent experience.Significant experience in merchandising, category management, or demand planning (preferably in apparel / outdoor industry).Excellent project management skills, with the ability to balance workload across multiple brands, seasons, categories and channels.Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and Power BI, alongside the ability to clearly present compelling insights to a range of internal teams.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, to keep all relevant teams informed and aligned.Ability to manage competing priorities and drive teams across the business to meet seasonal deadlines in several countries.Application process
Please apply through SEEK with your CV and a cover letter.
This is a really crucial hire for us, and we will be taking our time to find the right person. We will keep candidates up to date about where they are in the process.
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