Director of Merchandising and Customer Experience

Job Summary

At Red White & Blue Thrift, the Director of Merchandising & Customer Experience plays a pivotal role in shaping the in-store customer journey. This dynamic leader will develop and execute visual merchandising strategies that elevate customer experience, drive foot traffic, and optimize sales across our retail locations. Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams—including Logistics, Facilities, Marketing, and Retail, this position brings the brand’s vision to life through compelling layouts, strategic buying, and promotional activations.

This remote role offers the flexibility to work from home while remaining closely connected to our store teams through up to 25% travel. To support strong alignment with store operations and field teams, candidates must reside in one of our key markets where Red White & Blue Thrift operates retail locations, such as Southern New Jersey, the Tampa or Miami areas, Denver, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Living within reasonable commuting distance to one of these markets ensures regular in-person collaboration, store visits, and the opportunity to pilot new initiatives and gather direct field feedback.

Visual Merchandising & Store Design

• Develop, maintain, and evolve seasonal floor plans for used and impulse merchandise across all store locations.
• Lead the design and execution of in-store layouts to enhance shopability and support sales objectives.
• Establish merchandising and signage standards to ensure a cohesive and engaging in-store experience.

Customer Experience & Promotion

• Drive initiatives that improve customer satisfaction and engagement.
• Collaborate with marketing to align promotional campaigns and loyalty programs with in-store visual strategies.
• Support seasonal retail market setups, new store launches, and key in-store events.
• Oversee merchandise rotation schedules and ensure timely implementation by store teams.

Buying & Product Strategy

• Manage product selection and sourcing for new and impulse merchandise categories.
• Research and evaluate vendors, trends, customer preferences, and competitive offerings to identify profitable opportunities.
• Analyze customer behavior and sales data to adjust merchandise mix, pricing strategies, and promotional tactics.

Project & Financial Management

• Own the P&L for new merchandise categories, with accountability for revenue, margin, and EBITDA goals.
• Plan and manage merchandising projects using structured project management tools and methodologies.
• Provide regular reporting, status updates, and performance analyses to stakeholders and executive leadership.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Retail Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of retail merchandising and space planning experience, preferably multi-store.
• At least 2 years of experience in buying and promotional sales.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regionally.
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays (as needed).

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership with the ability to manage direct reports and inspire cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and other Office applications.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Familiarity with AutoCAD is a plus.
• Proven project management experience and the ability to juggle competing priorities.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer (up to 8 hours/day).
• Ability to travel regularly to store locations, including occasional long drives or flights.
• Capability to navigate large store footprints and distribution centers, including walking, standing, or climbing stairs for extended periods during visits.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment (up to 25 pounds) such as laptops, training materials, or small boxes during store audits or meetings.
• Visual acuity to review documents, digital dashboards, and in-store signage or layouts.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer, tablet, mobile phone, and other standard office or field tools.

Work Environment

• Atmosphere: This role primarily operates in a remote or store-based office setting with frequent travel to store environments. Store visits may include exposure to fast-paced, high-traffic, noisy retail settings and occasional backroom or warehouse areas.
• Interactions with Others: Requires frequent interaction with store leaders, field employees, and corporate teams. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for coaching, assessments, and collaborative planning.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We’re dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team and designing employee experiences that contribute to your growth as much as you do to ours. We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and supportive of all individuals. We encourage qualified individuals with disabilities to apply and will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that they have equal access to employment opportunities.