Director - Accents

Director - Accents

Danbury, CT, USA Req #517 Friday, November 1, 2024

Position Summary :

This is a key role needed to help develop business strategy and the merchandising team management to support the direction for EA Accents furnishing program.

The Director, Accents is responsible for helping achieve targeted sales goals for the company's accents business unit, interpreting fashion trends and lifestyles to continually refine the merchandise mix and design and develop product that merchandising needs.

• Will help develop assortment plan breadth, depth, price points, target costs and SKU / sales allocation for each category, including the ability to Merchandise the entire product line to ensure an intuitive presentation of categories and opening price point to upper end aesthetics;
• lead execution and manage merchants to control SKU counts including our digital program and ensure products deliver against brand and business plans incorporating consumer and market trends, new technology, and channel strategies per marketing requirements;

fully integrate the company's interior design focus and consumer marketing programs into its accents merchandising program to create a merchandising assortment that distinguishes us from the competition while reinforcing value.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Partner with industry leaders to expand the range offerings while, co-developing new offerings that align with Ethan Allen design legacy.
• Provide leadership in and / or participate on cross-functional teams during the materials design and development process to arrive at excellent design results within aesthetic, performance, time, and cost constraints.
• Identify emerging idea / growth opportunities in product lines based on reviewing hindsight learnings and global markets.

Recommend strategic direction and goals for global merchandise area including focus for each category

• Develop material concepts and proprietary designs for Accents under the authorship of Ethan Allen. Collaborate with team to ensure the cohesion of the original design intent and the associated Ethan Allen brand vision.
• Explore color forecasts and trends applications as well as anticipate user needs and social changes with a future-focus.
• Maintain financial accountability for department, monitor and communicate sales and style performance
• Collaborate with Marketing team to communicate line plan intentions for broader audience
• Actively support the overall process and planning for delivering effective product introduction and launch / phase- out plans in Category
• Be responsible for Product Development including generating original ideas for development, reviews all products for approval and introduction to collection
• Be responsible for tracking trends - informs teams of marketplace trends and design vernaculars for future growth of offering
• Continuously monitor & evaluate sales forecasts, market share, profitability / margin evolution and performance of the Category, understand root cause of evolutions and then take appropriate corrective actions
• Establish annual SKU offering based on sales, marketing, and manufacturing availability
• Execute the design vision through strategic product development and creation of process and calendars, including sourcing appropriate products, troubleshooting quality problems, price issues and pre-production / production issues.
• Develop Sourcing strategy and global knowledge to align with organization initiatives around innovative product, speed, cost reduction, quality, mitigation of risk, supplier continuity, and utilization of emerging markets / opportunities
• Source new factories for additional materials and processes with a keen understanding of current factories and their capabilities
• Create and maintain an annual calendar for design process, manufacturing, and introduction.
• Foster a culture of collaboration across the organization to align department initiatives in order to support merchandising decisions, directives, and initiatives
• Provide strong leadership, management, development, and training to team members; and continuously re-evaluate the team and align the team / process in order to best service the organization
• Must be able to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, design, or advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in fields such as Merchandising, Sales, Marketing, Planning, Product Design, Product Development and Sourcing, etc.

particularly in the Luxury Home furnishings.

• Minimum 5 years of general management or leadership experience leading strategy development and implementation. Excellent coaching, mentoring, and people development skills.
• Global experience and knowledge of manufacturing / sourcing is desired.
• Comprehensive understanding of Retail Math - business terminology, key retail metrics and calculations. Strong financial and analytic acumen;

demonstrated ability to leverage data to inform strategy

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel / Word / PowerPoint / Design Software experience with Adobe suite tools
• Must have Outstanding written / verbal communication skills, demonstrated experience with direct report management, strategic planning, new product design and development, and heavy cross functional collaboration and leadership
• Demonstrated accountability; results-oriented; strong analytical & problem-solving skills
• Strong knowledge of design principles and technical knowledge in the area of expertise , home textiles, decorative accents, lighting, rugs, wall décor.
• Innovation ability to create new ways for the company to stand out in a saturated product market, especially in areas such as home accents, and offer new solutions to sourcing issues / challenges
• Adaptability ability to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, as well as solve problems effectively and efficiently.

Must be knowledgeable and agile to face multiple challenges directly related to the diverse accent division.

• Must be collaborative, has and artistic sense and the ability to "curate the collection" with the ability to understand, track, and communicate the competitive landscape to the entire team.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to drive initiatives and promote positive change; and proven success in a leadership role managing and developing a team, including the proven ability to effectively focus resources to implement a business strategy, generate excitement for and commitment to the vision, and implement goals that drive innovation and change

Benefits

Benefits are an important part of the total compensation that is offered, providing peace of mind and financial well-being.

Ethan Allen is committed to offering a variety of benefits that allow associates to choose whether or not to participate based on personal and family needs.

Some of the benefits offered are 401(k) plan (with Employer contributions), multiple Medical Plans with Prescription Drug Coverage, Health Savings Account (including Employer contributions), Dental Plan, Vision Plan, Basic Group Term Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Supplemental Group Term Life & AD&D Insurance, Dependent Group Term Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability (Full-Time associates only), Business Travel Accident Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts Health Care & Dependent Care, Commuter Saving Plans Public Transit & Parking, Voluntary Whole Life Insurance, Voluntary Critical Care Insurance, Voluntary Accident Insurance and Employee Assistance Program.

Ethan Allen is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

We are an E-Verify Employer.

Other details

• Job Family Merchandising
• Job Function 1B Mid-Level Managers
• Pay Type Salary
• Danbury, CT, USA

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