Retail Merchandiser, Universal Studios Hollywood

The Retail Commercial Specialist (Retail Merchandiser) independently owns assortment recommendations by location and the store merchandising financial strategy to ensure the right merchandise assortments are placed in each location. This includes executing merchandise placement in accordance with merchandiser-developed SKU-to-fixture plans, determining allocation quantities, allocating appropriate floor space for programs, and establishing product adjacencies. The Retail Commercial Specialist partners directly with Universal Studios Hollywood (USH) Retail Operations, UDX Franchise, Products & Partnerships (FPP) Global Merchandise Product Development/Buying, and Planning teams, the merchandise warehouse, and the Visual Merchandising team to develop location-specific retail strategies supported by analytics and business insights that inform and justify the overall retail master plan. The role is also responsible for managing inventory flow, monitoring out-of-stock conditions, and coordinating and directing floor sets, resets, and merchandise refreshes.

Here you can:

• Own and manage the product assortment assignment within the Universal Studios Hollywood & CityWalk retail locations to define the short- and long-term strategic direction per location.

• Work in tandem with the UDX Global Merchandise Product Development and Planning teams on location-based strategy planning to encompass line review attendance, mobilization milestone engagement, category, department, and program call-out via a grid implementation tool while providing location item display minimum quantity results.

• Develop all store plans consistent with targeted guest mix, seasonal requirements, special event placement, attraction profile, and store concept profiles.

• Regulate the balance of programs and inventory, direct the allocation strategy, re-evaluate program status, and negotiate changes as needed.

• Manage the development of the multi-unit floor and SKU-to-fixture plans, the implementation of location plans while targeting post-mortem evaluation checks, and location financial results orientation, completed in accordance with Retail Creative (Visual Merchandise) and Retail Commercial Strategy (Merchandising), Universal Creative, UDX, and Intellectual Property (IP) brand standards and guidelines.

• Conduct independent financial analysis to ensure program placement is meeting financial expectations and make decisions to re-assort or adjust tactics to address business trends. 

• Communicate needs, suggestions, stock level concerns, and provide direction to the store operators and buyers/developers/planners on assortment issues, merchandise exit strategies, product replacement, expiration, and quality issues.

• Directly monitor, track, and ensure the proper flow of goods, including new products, reorders, and delivery schedules.

• Independently control updates to the auto replenishment schedules, parameter display minimums, replenishment adjustments, manual inventory orders, and support the store teams on caseline/confection concerns, inventory control, and RTV processes.

• Understand and actively participate in Environmental, Health & Safety responsibilities by following established UDX/NBCU policy, procedures, training, and Team Member involvement activities.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Individual Contributor.