Genesco

Merchandise Manager, at Johnston & Murphy

Genesco • $80K — $95K *
Nashville, TN 37211In-Person
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, or related field.
  • 4+ years of progressive merchandising or buying experience, preferably in footwear and apparel.
  • Experience managing product assortments across retail and eCommerce channels.
  • Strong knowledge of merchandise planning, forecasting, and inventory management systems.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Office applications.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze sales and inventory reports to drive sales and profitability improvements.
  • Develop sales forecasts and inventory plans by product category and channel.
  • Communicate style-level projections to the Sourcing team to meet objectives.
  • Determine optimal SKU assortments based on performance and customer demand.
  • Monitor merchandise flow to ensure timely allocation and receipt.
  • Collaborate with Wholesale counterparts to align product strategies across channels.
  • Support special merchandising projects as assigned.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead and develop high-performing teams.
  • Cross-functional collaboration with various departments.
  • Involvement in strategic decision-making as a brand ambassador.
  • Potential for travel to assess store performance and trends.
Full Job Description
The Ideal Candidate

The Merchandising Manager is a strategic leader responsible for driving the performance, vision, and growth of assigned product categories across Johnston & Murphy retail stores and eCommerce channels. This role leads a team to develop and execute merchandise strategies that maximize sales, margin, inventory productivity, and customer engagement while ensuring alignment with the Johnston & Murphy brand position and business objectives.

As a key brand ambassador, the Merchandising Manager champions the brand point of view in cross-functional meetings, product discussions, and business planning, influencing decisions that strengthen customer experience and reinforce brand consistency. This leader partners closely with Design, Planning, Marketing, Retail Operations, and Executive Leadership to translate consumer insights and market trends into compelling assortments and growth opportunities.

How You Will Make an Impact

Merchandise Buying & Inventory Management
  • Analyze weekly sales, inventory, and performance reports to identify opportunities, risks, and actionable insights that drive sales and profitability.
  • Develop and maintain sales forecasts, inventory plans, and seasonal buy strategies by product category and channel.
  • Communicate style-level sales projections and inventory requirements to the Sourcing team to support business objectives.
  • Determine optimal SKU assortments, inventory depth, and breadth by store based on sales performance, capacity, customer demand, and regional trends.
  • Establish and adjust store model stocks and replenishment strategies based on current sales trends, inventory positions, and store performance.
  • Manage inter-store transfers and inventory reallocations to maximize sell-through and improve inventory productivity.

Omnichannel Merchandising
  • Monitor inventory flow and product deliveries to distribution centers and stores to ensure timely receipt and allocation of merchandise.
  • Support catalog and marketing initiatives through review and validation of product information, and pricing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate with Wholesale merchandising counterparts to align assortment, inventory, and product strategies across channels.
  • Serve as the Direct-to-Consumer merchandising expert for assigned product categories, providing insights and recommendations to cross-functional partners.
  • Communicate business performance, opportunities, and seasonal recaps to Product Development, Marketing, Sourcing, Operations, and Executive Leadership teams.

Additional Responsibilities
  • Support special merchandising projects and initiatives as assigned.
  • Travel occasionally to stores to assess performance, customer trends, and merchandising opportunities.

Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have
  • Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business or a related field.
  • 4+ years of progressive merchandising or buying experience, preferably within footwear and apparel.
  • Proven experience managing product assortments across multiple channels, including retail and eCommerce.

Core Competencies
  • Lead, coach and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
  • Champion the Johnston & Murphy brand point of view in meetings, planning sessions and key business decisions.
  • Communicate with confidence and managerial presence while effectively representing the merchandising team across the organization.
  • Manage multiple priorities with agility and accountability while maintaining a high level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.

Technical Skills
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Strong knowledge of merchandise planning, forecasting, allocation, and inventory management systems.
  • Ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize business systems, including IBM Planning Analytics, Jesta Merchandising System, and Jesta Sourcing & Demand.

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About Genesco

Genesco Inc. is a publicly owned specialty retailer of branded footwear, licensed and branded headwear and licensed sports apparel and accessories and is a wholesaler of branded and licensed footwear. Genesco sells its products principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Little Burgundy, Lids, Locker Room by Lids, Lids Clubhouse, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites. Genesco Inc., through its various subsidiaries, operates approximately 1,490 retail stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, primarily under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Little Burgundy, Lids, Locker Room by Lids, Lids Clubhouse, and Johnston & Murphy.
Learn more about Genesco
Size
18,000 employees
Market Cap
$564.1 million
Industry
Retail & Consumer Goods
Net Income
-$56.4 million
Founded
1924
5 Year Trend
+3.7%
Revenue
$1.7 billion
NASDAQ
GCO
* Ladders Estimates

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