Merchandise Manager

Honda Racing Corporation, a leader in motorsports racing is seeking a highly organized and detailed oriented Merchandise Manager to join its racing program in Torrance, California.

This position supports Honda Racing’s business units’ visions by leading in the creation, design and execution of Honda Racing merchandise and licensing of new products, ensure the quality of products, production delivery schedule, inventory management and implementation of selling them through multiple channels globally. This position will also create inventory sales incentives, countermeasures for slow moving or obsolete inventory, collaborating with HRC Marketing to push sales campaigns globally. Will also negotiate contracts with licensing partners, suppliers and vendors to ensure HRC business reports positive net operating profit.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Merchandise Planning

• Develop and execute merchandise strategies that align with Honda Racing’s brand identity and business goals.

· Analyze fashion trends and recommend design collaborations to reach a new audience.

• Plan seasonal product assortments, pricing strategies, and inventory levels to maximize revenue and fan engagement

· Source global merchandise companies, evaluate, present partnership option, provide recommendations.

· Negotiate financial agreements with vendors and Honda procurement.

Brand Integration and Storytelling

• Collaborate with Honda Motor, HRC US engineers/ engine designers to ensure merchandise reflects Honda’s racing heritage and current achievements.

• Use merchandise as a storytelling tool to deepen brand loyalty among fans, collectors, and motorsport enthusiasts.

• Use fashion trends, design trends, collaborations, to increase brand cache and introduce new fans to Honda Racing.

• Connect with HRC marketing and internal/external marketing partners and agencies to ensure merchandise is marketing within brand guidelines, voice and tone.

Revenue and Performance Management

• Work with General Manager to determine fiscal year inventory, costs, and sales plan for merchandise business

• Oversee gross margin targets, budget planning, and performance metrics to ensure profitability and growth

• Analyze trends, determine countermeasures for slow moving inventory, expanding product line or marketplaces.

• Analyze and present monthly sales metrics and performance of inventory to executive management while continually monitoring sales to ensure optimization and performance at the highest level.

• Analyze sales data with customer feedback to optimize product offerings.

Team Leadership:

• Manage HRC merchandise team for design executions and merchandise planning and production.

• Provide creative direction to apparel designer to fulfill our brand strategy and story through merchandise.

• Lead and mentor merchandise planner to accomplish production efficiencies, overseas sourcing, greater cost efficiencies, great gross margin.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.

· 7+ years of experience specializing in apparel merchandising in motorsports, ideally with a brand.

· Proven track record in developing product assortments, managing line plans, and driving revenue growth across multiple channels.

· Strong ability to blend financial acumen with creative merchandising; trend forecasting and brand storytelling

· Experience in collaborating with design, manufacturing, marketing to create

· Understanding of Honda Racing, motorsports culture and race events a must

· Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills, with an eye for detail and a knack for storytelling.

· Skilled in sales data analysis, inventory management and pricing strategy

· Creative thinker with the ability to generate fresh ideas and concepts for promotional content.

· Strong organizational and project management skills, capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

· Computer skills proficient including e-mail, Microsoft Office software

· Ability to document project goals/metrics and progress toward goals

· Ability to solve problems, present multiple solutions to decision makers with limited direction

An Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer. Women & minorities encouraged to apply

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person