E-Commerce and Internet
Director Ecommerce
- Job # - 9002
- Salary - OPEN
- Director Ecommerce (North Jersey Location)
Position Description
Scope of Position:
Responsible for overall sales of the Ecommerce channel with direct responsibility for product assortment and merchandise presentation, product promotion, website design (overall look and feel of the site) and usability best practices (Customer Experience). The Director of Ecommerce works with the heads of Merchandising, Marketing, Merchandise Planning, Creative, IT and Operations to develop and execute a best-in-class website consistent with the company\\\\\\\'s brand strategy and overall standards of customer service.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for the overall sales of the Ecommerce Channel as well as the “look and feel” of the site.
Develop and refine a detailed merchandising plan for the Ecommerce Channel, including: selection of products, development of home page “events”, development of email “events”, direction of landing/category/sub-category pages as well as site hierarchy.
Develop and execute Internet promotional programs by leveraging the Customer Experience Data. Work with Interactive Marketing Manager in analyzing the results and modify future promotional activities to maximize channel sales and profitability.
Work with Merchandise Planning to develop a detailed SKU level forecast by month for all merchandise sold on the site. Analyze merchandise sell- through and inventory investment to maximize gross margin.
Work with merchandise leaders on channel harmonization & pricing (regular and clearance prices) of all merchandise to ensure consistency.
Establish the brand direction for message and brand content through working with the Marketing and Merchandise Leaders.
Develop and maintain a familiarity with shopping on the Internet and the actions and initiatives of our competitors and others in the marketplace.
Optimize the online customer experience by gathering requirements from internal clients, defining, prioritizing and managing new site and site administration features and functionality while integrating the web site into multi-channel promotions, and maintaining overall site usability.
Work with the merchandise managers and other stakeholders to develop business case for web enhancements and lead the creation of project design briefs that translate business and functional requirements into project deliverables.
Work with IT to define and develop scopes, schedules and review processes for individual projects
Identify necessary resources and coordinate the work of designers and copywriters and content provider(s) to ensure that projects are completed according to specifications and on schedule and communicate progress, status, issues, and resolutions to key stakeholders and management.
Manage site content administration function
Contribute to the development of the Internet Channel strategy. Keeps the group abreast of developing technologies and innovative ideas.
Identify and champion opportunities to build and leverage best practices across multiple web sites
Analyze site usage reporting, customer feedback, marketing and competitive research to inform and improve site experience and performance.
Enhance websites with new ideas/pages/modules to meet business goals, or solve uncovered usability issues
Serve as creative strategy lead by defining, approving and enforcing the web site’s creative look & feel, content, photography, copywriting, information architecture, navigation and best practices standards.
Requirements
1. Minimum five years experience in an on-line environment
2. Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret data and make appropriate decisions to maximize sales and profitability in a direct to consumer merchandising environment.
3. Ability to handle multiple projects and priorities concurrently
4. Solid understanding of Internet infrastructure and design of web services
5. Must be able to work and communicate effectively with business and technical people at all levels of the company
6. Ability to get things done through existing production processes, as well as the initiative to help establish new processes and improve existing ones as needed, to improve efficiencies.
7. Strong communication and organizational skills
8. Experience with product forecasting, retail math, and desktop analytical applications (Excel, Access).
9. PC/Mac literate; familiar with and enthusiastic about the Internet
10. Strong interpersonal skills and history of success in a team environment.
11. Undergraduate degree with the concentration in business, marketing or economics.
Preferred Requirements:
1. Familiarity with company\\\\\\\'s existing systems.
2. Experience within the fashion industry.
3. Literate and experienced in all phases of web-site design, development and management.
Vice President Consumer Direct Sales and Marketing
- Job # - 9001
- Salary - OPEN
- POSITION FILLED MAY 2010
Position Overview
The “VP, Consumer Direct Sales and Marketing” role is a newly established position for this nationally recognized brand of gourmet confections, and in effect, this person will be the “Brand Manager” for one of the most beloved gourmet confection brands in the United States.
The scope of the role is quite broad, and includes:
• P&L accountability for the Consumer Direct Business
• Brand positioning/architecture
• Strategic marketing planning
• Tactical (communication) plan development
• Ongoing support for the business development process
• Competitive intelligence
• Innovation and new product development/configuration
• Gifting program development and how these would fit/reinforce the brand’s positioning and long-term growth
Staff
The new “VP, Consumer Direct Sales and Marketing” will oversee a small Marketing team, the call center and an offsite firm as well as collaborate closely with the leadership responsible for Investor Relations, Wholesale Sales and Public Relations. Going forward, resources can be added as the business situation demands additional talent, expertise, and increased capacity.
Scope of Responsibilities
• Consumer Direct P&L Accountability – responsibility for development and successful execution of the financial plans for the consumer direct business
• Brand Stewardship – The company has built a very successful brand and business within the Interactive/Direct Marketing space. That said, this marketplace is increasingly competitive, and customers and businesses are increasingly scrutinizing dollars spent. This position will serve as steward for the brand, ensuring its positioning, and advertising claims—and the firm’s value proposition—are clearly defined, supported, and optimized for growth. In additional it is imperative this position maintains growth and profitability in an accelerated fashion. Critical stakeholder segments include DTC, B2B, channel partners, and the press.
• Client Experience – Responsible for ensuring, development/refinement that there is clear and consistent alignment between the fundamental brand promise, and the “experience” the brand creates and delivers to gift recipients, day-to-day. The fact is that in the service industry, loyalty is driven by two fundamental forces, the quality and consistency of the product delivered, and the quality of the experience. For recipient and the viral affect—during or immediately after the engagement. This individual will be responsible for defining, capitalizing, mapping, and ultimately enhancing the overall customer/recipient experience, by ensuring that the brand lives at each and every touch point, and that the Brand Team who interact with customers understand how to consistently deliver this experience.
• Innovation – Working very closely with vertical practice leaders, and key Partners, seek opportunities to enhance delivery of the overall brand promise, by innovating both the way the product is made and delivered, and the type of product being delivered. This product ties closely to the above point on “Customer Experience,” and will be a critical strategy for the company going forward, particularly as the brand grows and rebounds, and the marketplace continues to become increasingly competitive.
• Marketing Communications – Responsible for developing all critical corporate and brand communications (or standards for development), including tactical elements like Business Development materials, Direct, Print Advertising, all aspects of interactive Marketing social, Web, partner Marketing, etc.
• Business Development – Develop annual strategic and tactical Marketing plans that are consistent with—and supportive of—the Business Development agenda. These plans must be designed to drive the company’s three, most critical measures of performance and success: (1) New customer acquisition; (2) Existing customer retention and satisfaction; and (3) cross-selling/up-selling additional products to existing customers. This work will also include ongoing creation and review of all Business Development materials and content, ensuring alignment with the brand standards and core positioning (current and future).
• Partnership Channel Marketing (Big Box/Clubs) – responsible for ensuring there is a tight, coordinated Marketing plan in-place to support and help drive channel partner activity that fuels the delivery on the back end of this cycle.
• Acquisitions – With the brand\\\'s long-term, strategic growth in-mind, work closely with the internal operations team, as well as key vertical leaders/Partners, on potential plans to develop or opportunistically acquire other brands, businesses, technologies, and other assets, that will enhance the position of the Brand
Reporting Relationship
The new “VP, Consumer Direct Sales and Marketing” will report directly to the CEO.
Performance Measures
• Increased annual revenue and profitability through optimized product mix and occasion driven offerings
• Improved the brand awareness and preference in the gourmet food-gifting arena
• Improved/develop the brand health measures (scored on key brand attributes)
• Improved customer feedback against the core brand\\\'s Value Proposition (RVP)
• Drive LCV (lifetime customer value) by increasing customer retention/satisfaction rates in year
• 360-degree internal feedback from the company\\\'s executive team and vertical leaders for process and SKU creation improvement
• Create a robust and fiscally centric R & D merchandise model
Travel & Location
There will likely be some occasional domestic travel with this position, but limited. The ideal home base for this person would be the headquarters in Englewood, NJ.
Compensation Package
• highly competitive compensation package (includes base and performance based incentives)
• Health benefits
• 401K
