Merchandise Specialist

Looking for Talented Merchandise Specialist!

 

Join our team as a Merchandise Specialist at Starboard Cruise Services, the world’s largest and leading duty free onboard retailer. Starboard is a wholly owned subsidiary of Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessey and is a multi-national, multi-cultural growing company. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Starboard operates duty free and travel retail on 80 ships worldwide, representing major cruise lines.  We can provide talented candidates with a fast paced, ever changing exciting work environment that will challenge you to use your leadership and management skills.

 Starboard is looking for a strong and experienced Merchandise Specialist to join the Merchandising team.  The select candidate will be accountable for the execution of Team strategies and consistently achieving Customer Service standards.  The Merchandise Specialist is responsible for maximizing sales, via communication of merchandise issues; staff development and developing strong relationship with local vendors providing operational support in achievement of total store objectives.  The Merchansie Specialist, based at Starboard HQ, has merchandising responsibilities for the respective category within all ship locations.

 

 

 

Primary Responsibilities:

 

Strategy ExecutionEvaluate, react and communicate strategy proactivelyCommunicate plan-o-gram position, including assortments, promotions, pricing, and seasonal conversion to shop managersManage floor space and productivity by reporting changes to Shop managementWork with product merchants on assigning brand profiles, and presentation quantitiesResponsible for accurate presentation stock and maintaining plan-o-grams and visual presentation standards by brand/classParticipate in the development of promotional strategies for local marketCommunicate strategy to other stores within divisionSet and achieve best practices and achieve uniformity across all shipsAssist store profitability by negotiating transparency rentals with local vendors.

 

Customer Service and Sales Management

 Ensure focus on priority of achieving high level of customer serviceAssist in the development of product savvy, customer friendly sales expertsOrganize and provide product knowledge trainingAssist in improving division selling productivity by negotiating vendor funded staffingMonitor stock for desirable levelsEstablish and maintain housekeeping and stock-keeping standardsMonitor distribution to store, communicate presentation stock needs and changes to the Distributor and MCL Product and/or Planning Merchant as appropriateAssist with selecting, training, coaching, and evaluating Sales Managers and staff

 

Manage Productive Space/Inventory ManagementMonitor space productivity and communicate changes to Product/Planning Merchants when necessaryMonitor inventory productivity and communicate changes when necessary with Associate BuyerImplement aged and D SKU action plansExecute markdowns as directed by the Merchandising Manager

 

 

Communication

·  Maintain frequent communication with:

-  each store of the respective category within the division

-  corporate Planning & Merchandising Team(s)

-  Associate Buyer

-  Visual and Promotional Team

 

Vendor Relationships

·  Coordinate vendor visits and manage local relationships with MM approval

 

Store Renovations

·  Recommend category business plans for new locations

·  Understand impact of capital projects

·  Link to the Team for merchandising decisions

 

 

Key Competencies Required

 

·  Perseverance

·  Action Oriented

·  Command Skills

·  Informing

·  Organizing

·  Managing Diversity

 

Experience:

 3 years of retail operations or merchandising experience with undergraduate degree preferredEffective communication both oral and writtenAbility to organize and prioritize workload to meet established deadlinesAble to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the businessAbility to lead and motivate a culturally diverse staff

·  20% travel required (mostly vehicle travel to local ports, approximately 5 trips abroad annually)

·  Adobe Indesign CS2 knowledge or ability