lululemon

who we are

lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well. We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in. As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future. In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.

position

Associate Merchant

location

Shanghai, China

about this team

The Merchandising team creates and executes transformative global product strategies that ensure we have the right assortment in the right place at the right time to fulfill our guests’ unmet needs to deepen our guest relationships, grow our brand and deliver on our long-term enterprise goals. We possess deep awareness and intuition of global marketplace dynamics and regional guest needs and use this knowledge to identify opportunities to maximize guest demand.

core responsibilities

The Associate Asia Product Creation Merchant is responsible for delivering region-specific insights to the Asia Product Creation team to inform localized product strategies and briefs. With guidance and collaboration from the Merchant Director and Buying Managers, the Associate Merchant builds out and manages their strategies and assortment plan for a small sub-class of styles or category. This is inclusive of financial goals, metrics, local product, cultural and guest insights, to service their regional market needs. They are an analytical thinker who, in collaboration with the Merchant Director and Buying Managers, can balance foresight, insight and hindsight to draw critical business conclusions. They work closely with Merchant Director, Merch & Buying Managers, and cross-functional partners throughout the product creation development cycle for pre-season execution. They are also responsible for accurate data entry and maintenance of the styles they manage. This person is on the career growth path to be developed into a Regional Merchant.

• Responsible for maintaining accurate data entry and integrity of the styles they manage
• Share Regional insights (guest, products, market trends) with Regional (APAC & China) Merchandising and Asia Product Creation teams, informing product strategies and regional style needs to deliver against regional sales goals
• Deliver Regional merchandising strategies for a small subset of styles or categories
• With guidance from their Merchant Director, create product briefs that reflects brand consistency and regional relevance, maximizing profitability and sales across product class, and key items
• Identify fast turn style needs to round out regional assortment needs and brief to Asia product creation
• With guidance from their Merchant Director, create Visual assortment view for region and Global Merchandising approval.
• Support Merchant Director in preparing decks for Buy Reviews (incl. strategies, attributing, flow, etc.)
• Validate buy accuracy, and with support from Merchant Director resolve MOQ issues, partnering with Global teams to ensure Buy Ready issues are solved
• Prior to and in season, with guidance from Merchant Director identify changes to targeted in-store date and recommend options to maximize seasonal product flow

qualifications

• BA, BSc, BBA, BCom (or equivalent), specialization in Retail or Merchandising Management an asset
• Minimum two years of Merchandising or Regional Buying experience preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Program and mastery in excel, preferred experience in PO and Price Management software
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
• Strong understanding of retail mathematics and open to buy
• Ability to balance analytical and creative tasks
• Strong understanding of season-to-season business performance
• Preliminary understanding of business drivers based on key financial indicators, in order to make recommendations to maximize business opportunities, with guidance from Manager and Senior Team Members
• Acute eye for product and color trends
• Aware of macro lifestyle and fashion trends and how this relates to the active and wellness industry
• Ability to enroll, lead and influence key cross functional partners
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and demonstrative ability to present to peers and leaders
• Ability to accurately and efficiently manage data entry and highly organized with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to multitask and operate in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel (domestic and international) and work on the retail floor

must haves

additional notes
Authorization to work in China is required for this role.

compensation and benefits package 

At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority. We believe that when life works, work works. We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well. Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:

workplace arrangement

In-person collaboration and office-based work is necessary and important for this role. Work is performed onsite, 5 days a week, depending on role requirements. 

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