Charming Charlie seeks a VP of Ecommerce (Houston, TX)

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We are working with Charming Charlie in its search for a VP of Ecommerce. Founded in Houston in 2004, Charming Charlie is a unique retail concept that specializes in women's accessories - featuring thousands of fashion jewelry pieces, a wide assortment of handbags, belts, and scarves - all categorized by color, not category. Check out this quick video of the company.? My wife and three daughters are going to spend us into the poor house when Charming Charlie comes to our local mall!

The VP of Ecommerce will be responsible for developing and executing ecommerce strategies and plans, and will ensure that the online strategy aligns with the firm's overall company strategy. This position will be responsible for all ecommerce concept development, strategy, planning, and implementation.

The VP of Ecomerce will oversee the company's online assortment, pricing, promotions, and product presentation, and s/he will track and report on the effectiveness of internet marketing success and appeal. Moreover, the VP of Ecommerce will analyze all web service usage trends to improve and/or add functionality while managing all relationships with external internet business partners.

HARRY?S COMMENTS: This is a great opportunity to work with one of the fastest-growing multichannel merchants in America. In the last few years, Charming Charlie has caught fire, growing to 14 stores by 2008; 36 in 2009; 96 in 2010; to 195 currently. By the end of 2012, the company expects to operate approximately 230 stores, with plans to grow at a similar rate for the foreseeable future.

Traditionally, accessories have been a cross-sell for department stores and, to a lesser extent, specialty retailers. But the industry is beginning to see accessories as a major growth driver (consider Fossil, Kors, and Vera Bradley). According to MarketWatch, shoe retailer DSW recently doubled its number of planned 2012 store openings to 35-40 due to customers' interest in the increased appeal of the company's accessories offerings.

So, the market opportunity is definitely there.

Charming Charlie's concept is simple but not easy: It focuses on fashion jewelry and accessories; not apparel. Its stores are usually ~8,000 square feet with a very broad array of product, merchandised by color, with price points between $4.97 and $49.97. The company has recently hired a number of industry veterans with impeccable experience, and it's supported by a very strong board.

Ecommerce is a key enabler of Charming Charlie's vision of making women everywhere feel fabulous by giving them a guilt free-way to complete an outfit, or update their look, in an affordable way. In the future, Charming Charlie will offer a curated selection online. Accordingly, the company seeks a dynamic VP of Ecommerce who will understand the brand, product and customer.? It is essential that the candidate be able to prioritize and ultimately integrate the most future-oriented digital technologies into Charming Charlie's customer experience.

The new VP of Ecommerce must be intellectually curious about what's going on in the accessories space and be able to work cross-functionally to ensure that ?editorial? and ?non-product? content is a prominent component of Charming Charlie?s digital experience.

Initially, the new VP must help the team develop more effective weekly scorecards that tie-in ecommerce metrics with product-specific metrics. Also, s/he will need to work closely with Development and other departments to prioritize projects in the development cue. Also needed: Better process documentation from a UX testing, vendor management, operations, and merchandising perspective.

This is a fun, high profile, well-paying gig with a lot of moving parts, and Charming Charlie?s hiring process says a lot about what the company needs from its new ecommerce leader: By the final round of interviews, candidates should come well prepared to discuss their thoughts on how to grow Charming Charlie?s business in a brand-friendly, multichannel way.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver annual earnings and related goals through improvements to the online shopping experience, expansion of product lines, and channel diversification
• Assertively manage key drivers behind sales and gross margin, including: traffic, average order value and conversion, to ensure the team is on track to meet or exceed plans
• Manage milestones, deadlines and scheduling for multiple simultaneous projects, keeping the team up to date with progress and decisions
• Communicate to Executive team and other key business partners the strategies driving ecommerce, a vision and roadmap for future growth, and provides ongoing status updates across initiatives
• Responsible for building and leading a successful ecommerce team and optimizing headcount based on business needs
• Maximize customer conversion and retention through various methods of research and analysis
• This position will conceive and deploy web site improvements and roadmaps and must have effective collaboration with cross functional business partners
• Directly responsible for strategic and day to day execution of all online business aspects including ecommerce sales, budget, promotions, and customer experience
• Meet financial objectives through annual budget preparation, forecasting, analyzing variances, and initiating corrective action
• In close coordination with Merchandising team, responsible for online product assortment, selection and performance
• Develops appropriate promotional and marketing strategies to drive the key metrics of the business, which includes traffic, conversion, sales and earnings, among other metrics
• Supervises all website development efforts including content design and updates
• Develop customer satisfaction measure by defining and communicating expectations
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors Degree plus 7-10 years of progressive experience in developing and maintaining a successful ecommerce website in retail or related field
• Demonstrated leadership capability in recruiting and retaining a top performing team
• Outstanding financial and business acumen with the ability to interpret results and recommend appropriate action
• Must thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with ability to effectively manage shifting priorities
• Proven experience working cross-functionally within all levels and departments of organization
• Successful track record of vendor negotiations and merchandising experience
• Demonstrated leadership in the execution of strategic plans in a rapidly changing environment
• Effective communication skills, but verbal and written
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with shifting priorities

Applications for this position are being coordinated by Harry Joiner. To apply, CLICK HERE.? Candidates, please be sure to email Harry Joiner for a packet of market research and company / competitive intel that will differentiate you in your candidacy. Due to the intensely competitive nature of this search, thorough preparation for these interviews with this proprietary material is strongly recommended.

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