About this role
Primary Job Functions
Category Ownership & Business Performance
- Lead the national bedding category strategy for Ashley Retail.
- Own category sales, gross margin, profitability, inventory productivity, and market share performance.
- Develop annual and multi-year category growth strategies aligned with company objectives.
- Identify opportunities to expand category penetration, improve assortment productivity, and increase customer attachment rates.
- Establish and monitor KPIs to measure category effectiveness and business performance.
Assortment Strategy & Product Selection
- Develop and maintain the national bedding assortment strategy across all mattress, adjustable base, pillow, protector, sheet, and sleep accessory categories.
- Determine national assortment standards while enabling localized market strategies where appropriate.
- Lead line reviews, category evaluations, and assortment optimization initiatives.
- Utilize sales, customer, inventory, competitive, and market data to inform assortment decisions.
- Evaluate product lifecycle performance and manage product introductions, exits, and refresh strategies.
Pricing & Margin Management
- Own category pricing strategy across all bedding categories.
- Establish retail pricing recommendations designed to maximize profitability while maintaining market competitiveness.
- Manage margin targets, promotional planning, and product mix optimization.
- Monitor competitive pricing landscapes and recommend strategic adjustments.
Merchandising Strategy
- Develop enterprise-wide bedding merchandising standards and strategies.
- Create merchandising playbooks, floor placement guidelines, and space allocation recommendations.
- Establish category storytelling and product presentation standards that improve customer engagement and conversion.
- Partner with Retail Operations and Visual Merchandising teams to ensure consistent execution across all locations.
- Lead innovation in showroom merchandising and customer shopping experiences.
Licensee Partnership & Advisory Support
- Serve as the primary merchandising and category management resource for the Ashley licensee community.
- Develop and communicate national bedding strategies, assortment recommendations, and best practices.
- Provide data-driven insights and category performance analyses to support licensee decision-making.
- Conduct strategic consultations with licensees to improve category performance.
- Identify and share best practices from top-performing markets and retail locations.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and develop a team of regional bedding merchants.
- Establish performance expectations, development plans, and succession planning initiatives.
- Coach teams on category management, assortment optimization, analytics, and merchandising best practices.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate category initiatives and execution plans across regions.
Vendor & Strategic Partnership Management
- Build and maintain relationships with key bedding manufacturers and strategic suppliers.
- Lead vendor line reviews, negotiations, and strategic planning efforts.
- Evaluate new product opportunities and emerging industry trends.
- Partner with vendors on product launches, training programs, marketing support, and promotional initiatives.
- Ensure vendor strategies align with company growth objectives.
Analytics & Market Intelligence
- Analyze sales trends, consumer behavior, inventory productivity, and category performance metrics.
- Leverage customer insights and market data to drive assortment and pricing decisions.
- Monitor competitive retail environments and emerging sleep industry trends.
- Develop executive-level reporting and strategic recommendations.
- Translate data into actionable business initiatives that improve performance.
Secondary Job Functions
This section describes the secondary responsibilities that this job performs.
- Maintain reliable attendance.
- Actively participate in departmental meetings, training and education. Assist with training other employees and providing backup.
- Complete other assignments and special projects as requested.
Job Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Management, or related field.
Experience
- 8+ years of experience in merchandising, category management, retail buying, or product management.
- 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and business performance.
- Bedding or Home Furnishings experience, Preferred
Licenses or Certifications
- None
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Effective time management and organizational skills
- Work independently as well as in a team environment
- Document management system
- Analytical and problem solving skills
- Maintain confidentiality
- Working knowledge of Continuous Improvement
- Handle multiple projects simultaneously within established time constraints
- Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, internet
- Perform under strong demands in a fast-paced environment
- Work professionally with customers and co-workers to efficiently serve our customers, treating both with enthusiasm and respect
- Display empathy, understanding and patience with employees and external customers
- Respond professionally in situations with difficult employee/vendor/customer issues or inquiries
Schedule Expectations
- This position will be required to travel frequently.
- Flexible and willing to work extended hours when necessary.
Job Competencies
- Ethics and values
- Integrity and trust
- Strategic thinking and business acumen
- Data-driven decision making
- Relationship building and collaboration
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Adaptability and problem-solving
- Customer-focused mindset
- Initiative and self-motivation