Director of Merchandising

<h3><strong>About the Role:</strong></h3> <p>We are seeking a highly strategic and collaborative Director of Merchandising to lead category strategy from concept through go-to-market execution. This role will play a critical role in shaping the product assortment, identifying whitespace opportunities, and building commercially successful product strategies across a growing multi-category business.&nbsp;</p> <p>The ideal candidate has deep expertise in assortment strategy within a fast-growing, multi-channel DTC brand and possesses a strong balance of analytical rigor, consumer intuition, and cross-functional leadership. This role requires a highly proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to influence senior leadership, build alignment across teams, and operate effectively in a dynamic growth environment.</p> <h3><strong>Core Responsibilities</strong></h3> <p><strong>Category Strategy &amp; Assortment Planning</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner with the Head of Product &amp; Merchandising to define the assortment strategy across multiple product categories, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and building customer LTV.</li> <li>Build and maintain line plans that support balanced assortments across key classifications, price points, and customer segments.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Product Creation &amp; Commercialization</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner closely with Design and Product Development to ideate and develop new product opportunities, tied directly to assortment strategy and strategic growth plans.</li> <li>Collaborate with Sourcing / Product Development to align product strategies with production capabilities and timeline requirements.</li> <li>Establish retail pricing strategies and margin architecture across new product initiatives.</li> <li>Ensure all product specifications, merchandising details, and assortment data are accurately created and maintained within systems and development tools.</li> <li>Keep a finger on the cultural pulse and competitive landscape. Translate trends and white space opportunities with a Lola lens rather than chasing or copying them.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Business Planning &amp; Opportunity Sizing</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner with Finance and Planning to evaluate and size new product opportunities and growth initiatives.</li> <li>Utilize sales data, customer insights, and market trends to inform assortment decisions and investment priorities.</li> <li>Develop category hindsight and forward-looking recommendations to optimize productivity and inventory efficiency.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Go-to-Market Leadership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner with Brand Marketing, Performance Marketing, and Operations to develop comprehensive go-to-market strategies for product launches and seasonal drops.</li> <li>Ensure alignment between product storytelling, launch timing, inventory readiness, and marketing objectives.</li> <li>Support campaign planning with compelling product narratives and assortment positioning.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Performance Analysis &amp; Lifecycle Management</strong></p> <ul> <li>Analyze product performance post-launch, evaluating success against financial and customer metrics.</li> <li>Identify opportunities to accelerate performance through pricing actions, marketing support, product refinements, or lifecycle management strategies.</li> <li>Present category insights and recommendations to senior leadership on a regular basis.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cross-Functional Leadership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Serve as a highly collaborative partner across Product, Design, Finance, Planning, Marketing, Operations, and Executive Leadership teams.</li> <li>Build alignment and consensus across stakeholders while balancing creative vision, operational realities, and financial objectives.</li> <li>Mentor and influence cross-functional teams through strong communication, organization, and leadership presence.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Based full-time in New York City, working in-person from the Lola Blankets office. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed — mills, factories, trade shows, and partner meetings.</p> <h3><strong>Qualifications</strong></h3> <ul> <li>7+ years of merchandising experience leading categories at a fast-growing, multi-category, multi-channel DTC brand.</li> <li>Proven track record developing and scaling commercially successful product assortments.</li> <li>Strong understanding of assortment planning, pricing strategy, margin management, and product lifecycle management.</li> <li>Experience partnering closely with Design, Product Development, Planning, and Marketing teams throughout the product creation process.</li> <li>Strong analytical capabilities with experience leveraging sales performance, customer insights, and market trends to drive decisions.</li> <li>Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus among senior stakeholders.</li> <li>Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to leadership.</li> <li>Highly organized and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment.</li> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Business, Fashion, or related field preferred.<strong><br><br></strong></li> </ul> <h3><strong>What We Offer:</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Competitive salary</li> <li>Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, PTO)</li> <li>401K with company match</li> <li>Flexible remote work environment</li> <li>Paid time off and holidays</li> <li>An opportunity to make a direct impact on a high-growth, design-forward brand</li> <li>A collaborative, passionate, and purpose-driven team</li> </ul> <h3><strong><br></strong><strong>Why Join Us?</strong></h3> <p>This is a rare opportunity to shape the product identity of a brand at an inflection point — a creative leadership seat with real ownership, real resources, and the space to build something category-defining. If you believe softness can be a statement and that the most interesting brand in home textiles hasn’t been built yet, we’d love to meet you.</p>