Location: Manchester,VT, USA
The Vermont Country Store is one of the most unique and beloved companies in America. Orton Family owned since 1946, the company offers a comprehensive assortment of high-quality, practical, and hard-to-find goods through its catalog, website and two stores in Weston and Rockingham, Vermont. Despite the company's image as an old-fashioned country store, The Vermont Country Store is a champion of innovation in our marketing, our operations and as an employer of choice. For two years running, The Vermont Country Store has earned the #1 ranking in the Universal Service Provider category of Newsweek Magazine's Best Online Shops, placing ahead of Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target, and other industry leaders. Come join our high-performing team who collaborate, innovate, and deliver strong results. We are committed to seeking life-long learners, promoting from within and creating long-term opportunities for those who excel. We welcome you to apply even if you do not check all the boxes. We hope you will consider joining us and see where a career with us can lead you.
The Vermont Country Store is currently seeking a Product Development Manager. The qualified candidate will successfully manage and develop new, unique, products for The Vermont Country Store customer while driving sales and profit growth across multiple channels.
Location: 5650 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT
Position Overview:
* Manage and develop a compelling multi-channel assortment including developing new successful products and/or sub-categories and optimizing existing products for maximum sales and profit growth.
* Bring energy and fresh perspective to finding and developing the new products and sub-categories that fit our positioning and meet the needs of our customers.
* Review and analyze key performance metrics for products and develop a plan to address opportunities and challenges
* Develop, evaluate, and manage vendor relationships with current and prospective suppliers to maximize profit, quality, and growth potential.
* Collaborate closely with various internal teams including Inventory, Operations, Digital, Advertising and Retail to optimize and ensure appropriate product assortment, quality, packaging and presentation across all channels and touch points.
* Demonstrate leadership through effective verbal and written communication, staff development, promotion of department goals, collaboration with key business partners, and participation in business decisions.
* Available to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
Key Responsibilities:
* Identify great new product and category opportunities and bring them to market
* Develop and manage merchandise assortment for assigned categories to achieve sales and growth objectives
* Understand the competitive marketplace and pursue category opportunities that align with business plans
* Review and analyze key performance metrics for products and develop a plan to capitalize on strengths and address weaknesses
* Develop relationships with vendors to maximize product quality and growth potential
* Collaborate closely with various internal teams
* Participate and present in product meetings to identify new product and category ideas
* Manage and mentor direct reports to achieve long term success.
What you bring:
* Bachelor's degree in merchandising and/or at least 3-5 years of product management experience in a multi-channel retail environment or related field
* Demonstrated success in developing and launching new & unique products.
* Experience using Excel, pivot tables a plus
* One who possesses a combination of creativity to drive innovation and analytical skills to drive business performance
* Ability to define problems, analyze data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
* Attention to accuracy and detail.
* Positive, collaborative attitude and manner.
* Ability to prioritize work in a multi-disciplined environment.
What we offer:
* We offer a competitive salary package, 401-K, commuter benefit, dental, vision, an ICHRA employer contribution for medical insurance, contributions to the cost of childcare, employer paid life, short-term and long-term disability, voluntary life insurance, accident, hospital and critical illness, auto insurance, home insurance, recreational toys insurance