Job Title: Head of Sourcing & Merchandising- Impulse and Seasonal
Location: Shanghai, China
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Job Summary:
We are seeking an energetic, fast paced, and results-driven Head of Sourcing & Merchandising for our Impulse & Seasonal (I&S) hard goods category to lead the development and execution of products and strategies, build key international relationships (suppliers and customers), identify new business opportunities, and coordinate merchandising/product development and sourcing strategies for fast-moving hard goods in global markets. This role requires deep knowledge of impulse and/or seasonal categories, eye for trend and design, merchandising and sourcing experience, and the ability to work across cultures and geographies, especially with regional officers of retailers.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Management
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team of Shanghai-based I&S merchandisers.
- Foster a creative, collaborative, and agile team culture focused on trend leadership and speed to market.
Business Development
- Develop and execute I&S strategies together with EVP of Merchandising I & S and COO to drive revenue growth across key markets.
- Identify and establish strong relationships with vendors, retailers, and trade partners within identified regions.
- Manage existing international accounts local relationship such as Target TSS and PSQA, Walmart China/SEA regional offices, Tesco China/SEA regional offices, Hallmark etc., ensuring sales targets are met or exceeded.
- Identify trends in market and determine where/how to source in market, working closely with strategic sourcing dept.
- Negotiate pricing, terms, and agreements in line with company policies with our strategic vendors.
- Monitor competitor activity and market trends to identify new opportunities or threats for Horizon Group USA I&S business.
Merchandising & Product Strategy
- Collaborate with US Creative Merchandising team to develop assortments aligned with market demand.
- Work with design, sourcing, and merchandising teams to balance trend, cost, and feasibility.
- Manage seasonal merchandise plans and pricing strategies by closely liaising with Vendors and USO teams.
- Ensure speed-to-market and agility for fast-trending or impulse products, often with shorter lead times.
- Identify suppliers that can meet lead time, quality, compliance, etc. requirements.
- Ensure all seasonal launches meet compliance, sustainability, and brand standards.
Cross-functional Coordination
- Work closely with Shanghai office branch head, logistics, compliance, and production teams to ensure timely delivery and regulatory compliance in all countries.
- Support trade show participation, customer visits, and virtual showrooms to showcase the product line in China and SEA.
Reporting & Analysis
- Track I&S performance, forecast trends, and report KPIs to senior management.
- Provide regular insights into customer buying behavior and market performance.
- Analyze profitability by SKU, customer, and region to optimize product mix and identify profitability improvement strategies.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
- 10-15 years' experience in product development and sourcing in hard goods categories required.
- MUST have experience with custom/exclusive product development.
- Experience in an impulse and/or seasonal category is highly preferred.
- Must have experience with US market and retailers such as Target, Dollar General, Walmart, etc.
- Must have COP (country of production) knowledge along with up-to-date tariff knowledge
Skills:
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Fluent in English; Mandarin is highly preferred.
Other:
- Willingness to travel internationally (10-30% depending on role and season) as well as to factories within China and SEA for multiple days at a time.
- Knowledge of global compliance standards (e.g., CE, UL, FSC, etc.) is an advantage.