DTC Product Merchandiser

The purpose of the DTC Product Merchandiser, reporting directly to the Buying and Merchandising Manager, is to curate an engaging and visually appealing online shopping experience for our customers. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective merchandising strategies, ensuring that our product assortment aligns with market trends and customer preferences. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the musical instrument industry, strong analytical skills, and a passion for creating memorable online shopping experiences. 

In scope are all Brands and Categories offered on Gibson Brands DTC channels, with a key focus on Ecommerce channel.  

Primary geographic scope is the United States; however, she/he is a global subject matter expert and liaises frequently with regional DTC teams in EMEA and APAC.  

This is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact on Gibson's growth and success.

LOCATION

Gibson Brands Global Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee; full-time in-office presence is required.

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

• Revenue Growth
• Engagement, Conversion, Sell Thru
• Traffic
• NPS 

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal:

• DTC Leadership Team
• DTC Operations Manager 
• DTC Buying & Product Merchandise Manager 
• DTC Consumer Experience Manager 
• Product Development Team
• Brand Management and Marketing
• DTC Financial Analyst
• Regional DTC Leaders 

Essential Functions 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Merchandising Strategy: Develop and execute merchandising strategies that align with overall business objectives, focusing on maximizing sales, engagement, and customer satisfaction. Partners closely with Buying & Product Merchandiser to understand business goals and “Commercial Calendar” and executes product plans on the Ecommerce channel. 
• Product Assortment: Curate and manage the online product assortment, ensuring it reflects the brand's identity and meets the needs and preferences of our target audience.
• Ongoing Site Maintenance: Responsibility over QA (copy, price, site functionality, timely site refreshes, etc.) and site prep and maintenance for New Product Introductions (NPIs) and daily maintenance of Ecommerce site.
• Market Analysis: Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and customer behaviors to make data-driven decisions and identify new merchandising opportunities.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the Marketing, Brand, and Consumer Experience teams to ensure alignment between merchandising efforts and overall business goals.
• Promotions and Campaigns: Plan and execute promotions, discounts, and campaigns to drive traffic and increase conversion rates, collaborating with the marketing team to create compelling and cohesive messaging.
• User Experience: Optimize the online shopping experience by ensuring product pages are informative, visually appealing, and user-friendly. Collaborate with Web Development and Consumer Experience teams to implement improvements.
• Inventory Management: Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with Operations teams to ensure product availability and timely launches of new products.
• Analytics and Reporting: Utilize analytics tools to track and measure the performance of merchandising initiatives. Provide regular reports and insights to DTC Leadership and cross-functional partners. Make strong optimization recommendations for improving the Ecommerce shopping experience that will drive business and meeting targets. 
• Subject Matter Expert: Become the go-to authority for the Ecommerce channel, demonstrating an in-depth understanding of our product offerings, customer behavior, and industry trends. Stay informed about the latest advancements in ecommerce merchandising and technology, and proactively share insights with cross-functional teams. Leverage your expertise to drive continuous improvement, ensuring the online shopping experience reflects the brand's identity and exceeds customer expectations.
• Copywriting:  Prepare detailed and engaging product copy aligned with brand voice and content requirements per channel

OTHER DUTIES

• DTC Product Merchandiser can be asked to lead or contribute to specific projects and can be asked to perform other duties that are reasonable with the area of responsibility and expertise.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Skilled in building MI (Stringed Instrument) Ecommerce Merchandising strategies and through to execution 
• Extensive knowledge of Gibson Brands’ current and historic product portfolio
• Extensive knowledge of Stringed Instrument market, specifically guitar, bass and accessories
• GTM Process Management; Efficiently manage priorities, time, attention to detail, and strong project management skills.
• DTC Product Metrics and Commercial Acumen
• Merchandise Metrics, Retail Math, KBDs, KPIs
• Excellent analytical skills in processing, analysing, and reporting data; Revenue; Channel; Sell Through; Merchandise Metrics
• Demonstrates ability to derive actionable insights from data and make informed decisions and improve business performance
• Possess strong digital acumen and uses technology to achieve work objectives
• Must be able to manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, and organizes workload to meet timelines in a fast paced, high-growth environment

• Ability to acquire product technology skills quickly

• Experienced/Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook, Merchandise Planning and Analytical Tools (Salesforce, Power BI)

Required Education and Experience

• Academic Experience: Post-secondary education in Business/Marketing/Merchandising/Music or related area or equivalent experience (Bachelor/master’s degree)
• Proven Experience: ideally 4-5 years of relevant work experience within Ecommerce/Retail in Online Merchandising roles.
• Familiarity with ecommerce platforms and content management systems. 
• Understanding of the MI industry, specifically Stringed Instrument categories.
• Possess a keen understanding of digital consumer journeys and behaviors, demonstrating a deep appreciation for the online shopping experience.
• Working knowledge of digital best practices 
• Knows how to navigate a matrix organization and demonstrates an understanding of different organizational departments and functions.

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Skilled in building MI (Stringed Instrument) Ecommerce Merchandising strategies and through to execution 
• Extensive knowledge of Gibson Brands’ current and historic product portfolio
• Extensive knowledge of Stringed Instrument market, specifically guitar, bass and accessories

• GTM Process Management; Efficiently manage priorities, time, attention to detail, and strong project management skills.

• DTC Product Metrics and Commercial Acumen
• Merchandise Metrics, Retail Math, KBDs, KPIs
• Excellent analytical skills in processing, analysing, and reporting data; Revenue; Channel; Sell Through; Merchandise Metrics
• Demonstrates ability to derive actionable insights from data and make informed decisions and improve business performance.
• Possess strong digital acumen and uses technology to achieve work objectives.
• Must be able to manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously, and organizes workload to meet timelines in a fast paced, high-growth environment
• Ability to acquire product technology skills quickly
• Experienced/Proficient in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel, Outlook, Merchandise Planning and Analytical Tools (Salesforce, Power BI)

Personal Qualities

• Passionate about working and winning in a team environment.
• Great love for guitars and passion for music, with a deep appreciation for Gibson’s brands and products
• Genuine enthusiasm, great team collaboration and high say/do ratio.
• Able to multitask, to prioritize and to identify solutions in timely manner.
• Continuous learning and looking for better ways to do things.
• Self-sufficient, proactive, service and result oriented.
• “Can do” attitude.
• Personable, fun, team oriented and ignites a positive work atmosphere.
• Customer centric mindset: Enjoy pursuit of delivering the industry-leading omnichannel customer experience.

 Travel Requirements 

• This position is mostly office based, but may involve irregular travel

Physical Demands 

• Sitting for long periods of time, standing, walking
• Must be able to lift up to 60 pounds