Associate Merchant, Apparel

Associate Merchant - Apparel

The Galls Associate Merchant - Apparel Category is responsible for driving the overall product and assortment strategy within a select product category for Galls to deliver successful results as measured by sales, gross profit, margin rate, GMROI and other key metrics. Serves as the accountable owner of their product categories with Merchant oversight, responsible for establishing strategies that will deliver performance through all Galls sales channels including Galls, US Patriot, and Ecommerce through the development of relevant, profitable product assortments, vendor relationship and business productivity, cross‑functional collaboration with key internal stakeholders and operational execution.

• Through the extensive knowledge of product, market, consumer, usage, vendors, and trends of their respective product categories, provides leadership across the organization to position Galls as the respected industry leader and category captain for all Galls customer types.
• Owns, enhances, and leverages all vendor relationships within assigned categories for the benefit of the Galls business. Creates opportunities for sustained growth, financially viable product differentiation, market advantages and ensures vendor performance to goals across all metrics including margin, supply chain and sales fulfillment. Serves as the go‑to leader for all issues concerning inbound activity, vendor performance and product management.
• With the leading Merchant, synthesize Galls corporate strategies into individual product category strategies as it relates to vendor selection and product assortment to manage inventory management, overstock and seasonal SKUs, market trends, GMROI, Turn, EBITDA and NWC achievement, vendor, and customer service levels.
• Manage the Galls portfolio of vendors and products within stated categories to maximize SKU optimization, productivity, and the complete product life cycle inclusive of distribution brands and private label products. Participates in internal Monthly Business Reviews and vendor Q  to adapt activity to business fluctuations for budget achievement.
• Leads the strategic product planning process and line reviews to grow respective categories in terms of sales and gross profit, as well as common strategies around shared initiatives to drive improvement within the enterprise.
• Uses extensive data‑mining and information analysis to identify insights, opportunities, challenges, and trends, then takes appropriate action with autonomy to ensure business stability.
• Resolves all issues and challenges as it relates to vendor interaction, including purchase order issue resolution, service level challenges, compliance charges, RTVs, pricing, and data error. Serves as the accountable leader ensuring all vendor business is operating at the highest efficiency and profitability, resolving all issues as they arise.
• Oversee shifts in priorities throughout the year to report progress and shifts in execution. Seeks, finds, and takes calculated moves that lead to transformational business growth.
• Through efforts of continuous improvement, work cross‑functionally to streamline processes, improve business behaviors and promote efficiency with the ability to connect to financial impact.
• Communicates strategies, tactics, results, and initiatives effectively across the organization including peers, cross‑functional stakeholders, and senior leadership. Create awareness to opportunities, influence and secure resources to deliver on responsibilities. Engages with cross‑functional sales partners to deliver on customer needs with a collaborative effort.

• Achieve yearly financial plans through productive assortments, vendor contract improvements, sourcing opportunities, margin enhancement activity, pricing strategies, cost reduction negotiations, increased SKU productivity and enterprise channel extensions (First Sight, Fire, Military, Fed/Mil).
• Enhance the financial productivity of categories and vendors through deep SKU optimization efforts, vendor pricing negotiations, vendor program enhancements and life cycle management as measured by GMROI, Turn,…