Merchandising Manager-Knits in St. Louis, Missouri at LT APPAREL

Merchandise Manager – Elderwear School Uniforms

Position Summary

The Merchandise Manager is responsible for the strategic planning, forecasting, inventory management, and execution of the Elderwear School Uniform product line. This role serves as the primary link between Sales, Operations, Sourcing, Production, and Customer Service to ensure product availability, inventory optimization, and exceptional customer fulfillment.

The successful candidate will leverage data-driven insights to forecast demand, manage inventory investments, support seasonal planning, and drive operational excellence across the business. This individual will play a critical role in ensuring readiness for key selling periods, particularly the Back-to-School season.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandise Planning & Forecasting

• Analyze sales performance, customer demand, market trends, and inventory levels to develop production and inventory plans.

• Lead forecasting and replenishment planning activities to support production plan and replenishment.

• Develop seasonal inventory strategies to ensure optimal product availability while minimizing excess inventory.

• Monitor SKU productivity and recommend actions to improve inventory efficiency and sales performance.

• Partner with leadership to support annual business planning and inventory investment strategies.

Inventory & Production Management

• Manage fabric and raw material purchasing to support production requirements and customer demand.

• Issue and maintain production orders aligned with customer commitments and business objectives.

• Monitor production schedules and collaborate with mills, factories, and sourcing partners to ensure on-time delivery.

• Identify potential supply chain risks and implement solutions to minimize disruptions.

• Maintain inventory levels that support customer service goals while maximizing inventory turns.

Product & Systems Management

• Oversee style creation, product setup, and maintenance within company systems.

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of product, inventory, and production data.

• Develop reports and dashboards to monitor inventory health, forecasting accuracy, and business performance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, Sourcing, and Production teams to align inventory and production plans with customer needs.

• Provide analytical insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

• Support new product launches and program expansions.

• Lead readiness planning for key selling periods, including Back-to-School execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field preferred.

• 5+ years of experience in merchandising, inventory planning, demand planning, supply chain, or related functions.

• Strong analytical and forecasting capabilities.

• Advanced Excel proficiency including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and data analysis.

• Experience working with ERP and inventory management systems.

• Excellent organizational and project management skills.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

• Experience in apparel, uniforms, retail, or consumer products preferred.

Success Measures

• Forecast accuracy

• Inventory turn performance

• Fill rate and customer service levels

• On-time production and delivery performance

• Back-to-School readiness and execution

• Reduction of excess and obsolete inventory