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$23K

$61.4K

$102.5K

How much do soft goods manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for soft goods manager in the United States is $61,351.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $69,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are soft goods managers?

Soft goods managers are retail professionals responsible for overseeing the sales, inventory, and merchandising of soft goods—products such as clothing, textiles, linens, and other non-durable items—within a store or department. They supervise staff, ensure attractive product displays, analyze sales data, and maintain stock levels to maximize profitability. Their role often includes training employees, providing customer service, and collaborating with vendors to ensure a steady supply of soft goods that meet customer demand.

What is the difference between Soft Goods Manager vs Product Developer?

AspectSoft Goods ManagerProduct Developer
CredentialsExperience in apparel or textile management, relevant certificationsDesign or engineering background, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentRetail, manufacturing, or brand management settingsDesign studios, R&D departments, manufacturing
Industry UsageFashion, sportswear, home textilesApparel, accessories, textile products
Search & Comparison IntentManaging soft goods inventory, supply chain, and product linesCreating new products, design, and development processes

The Soft Goods Manager primarily oversees the production, inventory, and management of soft textile products within retail or manufacturing environments. In contrast, the Product Developer focuses on designing and developing new soft goods products. While both roles require industry knowledge and related certifications, their core responsibilities differ—one manages existing product lines, the other innovates new products.

What is a soft goods manager?

A soft goods manager oversees the purchasing, inventory, and sales of soft products such as clothing, textiles, and accessories in retail or manufacturing settings. They coordinate with suppliers, manage stock levels, and ensure product presentation aligns with brand standards, often using inventory management software. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Soft Goods Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Soft Goods Manager, you need expertise in merchandising, inventory management, and retail operations, often supported by experience in retail management or a related degree. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory tracking software, and visual merchandising tools is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help drive team performance and customer satisfaction. These skills and qualities are vital for maximizing sales, ensuring efficient operations, and creating a positive shopping experience.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

For a Soft Goods Manager, annual salaries of $300,000 or more are uncommon and typically occur in senior leadership roles such as Vice President of Merchandising or Director of Product Development in large retail or manufacturing companies. These positions often require extensive experience, strategic skills, and oversight of large teams or budgets. Compensation at this level may include bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing in addition to base salary.

What are some common challenges faced by Soft Goods Managers in coordinating between design, production, and retail teams?

Soft Goods Managers often encounter challenges in aligning the expectations and timelines of design, production, and retail teams. Balancing creative vision with manufacturing capabilities, ensuring timely product launches, and managing inventory levels to meet retail demand all require strong communication and organizational skills. Additionally, adapting quickly to shifts in consumer trends and supply chain disruptions can add complexity to the role. Successful Soft Goods Managers foster collaboration and maintain flexibility to navigate these cross-functional challenges.

What is the highest paying job in fashion?

In the fashion industry, executive roles such as Creative Director, Chief Executive Officer, or Vice President of Design tend to be the highest paying positions. These roles require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often a strong portfolio, with salaries reaching into the high six or seven figures for top companies.

What jobs pay 10,000 a month without a degree?

A Soft Goods Manager typically earns less than $10,000 monthly, but high-paying roles without a degree include sales managers, real estate brokers, and certain skilled trades like commercial pilots or tech sales professionals. Success in these roles often depends on experience, skills, and performance rather than formal education.
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Soft Goods Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Soft Goods Manager job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,351 per year, or $29.5 per hour.
Product Development Manager, Soft Goods

Product Development Manager, Soft Goods

The Lumistella Company

Atlanta, GA • On-site

$110K - $137K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Description
Join us in Telling the Stories of Santa's North Pole!
The Lumistella Company is a global intellectual property company dedicated to bringing Santa's North Pole to life for children around the world through consumer products, original entertainment and brand experiences. We are home to the most iconic and beloved Christmas brands of this generation including The Elf on the Shelf, Elf Pets, and Elf Mates.
The Product Development Manager, Soft Goods will lead the executional development of all plush and textile-based products across Lumistella's core and inbound licensed lines. From fashion-forward accessories to character-driven plush, this role ensures that each item meets the brand's high creative standards while achieving cost, safety, and production feasibility targets.
This role works closely with Design and Sourcing to deliver accurate, vendor-ready documentation and to ensure storytelling, texture, and tactile delight are preserved through sampling and spec refinement. This role bridges creative intent and technical execution to deliver safe, engaging, and fully manufacturable products.
Projects include, but are not limited to elf dolls, costumes & clothing for elves (and potentially other characters), plush accessories, and plush characters of all shapes, sizes, and playable features. Each season can have upwards of 25 unique and innovative items for new development, in addition to products sold globally year after year requiring updates from previous seasons.
The Product Development Manager, Soft Goodswill:
  • Lead development of plush characters, fashion accessories, and soft goods SKUs from design handoff through pre-production sample approval.
  • Provide fabric and plush construction guidance for hybrid products, such as dolls with roto-molded heads and plush/felt bodies.
  • Owns the technical translation of design intent into manufacturable, child-safe, and cost-conscious plush and fashion items-serving as the primary steward of tactile and structural quality.
  • Translate designs into detailed specifications, including materials, trims, die-cut patterns, construction methods, and finishing techniques.
  • Partner closely with factories on problem-solving as it relates to die cuts, patterns, seam allowances, and cutting processes to ensure finished good construction is flawless.
  • Acts as the primary decision-maker for plush construction feasibility.
  • Partner with the Product Engineer as needed to finalize product specifications, ensuring dimensional accuracy and construction feasibility.
  • Maintain accurate version control of specifications throughout sampling cycles.
  • Provide samples to the Packaging Structural Designer to validate product/packaging fit; packaging spec ownership is the responsibility of the Packaging Designer.
  • Provide samples to the Packaging Graphics team as needed for photography; ensure final art files are provided to the factory on time during Pre-Production phase.
  • Oversee sampling rounds, evaluate construction quality, softness, scale, and appearance, and manage adjustments in coordination with vendors and internal stakeholders.
  • Provide clear, actionable feedback to factories on sample revisions, materials, and construction adjustments.
  • Ensure products meet market expectations for the brands' emotional and tactile experiences as premium goods meant to be cherished by consumers year after year.
  • Partner with Sourcing, Costing, and factories to align on material sourcing, cost targets, BOM accuracy, and feasibility resolution.
  • Work with Compliance & QC to ensure plush and textile products meet all required safety and regulatory standards.
  • Validate all products meet performance and functional requirements as defined in conjunction with the Director of Product Development.
  • Work closely with Program Management to maintain schedule adherence and escalate risks for projects that are in danger, offering solutions to mitigate the risks and minimize impact to ship dates.

If you want to be one of us...
The ideal candidate will bring:
  • 5+ years in plush, apparel, or soft goods engineering / product development
  • Experience managing development cycles across seasonal and licensed product lines
  • Experience working with licensed IP partners on product submissions and approvals
  • Strong understanding of cut-and-sew, 3D character plush, and cost optimization
    • Pattern-making knowledge, cut and sew construction and 3D volume development
    • Understanding of textile performance characteristics
    • Knowledge of trims, embellishments, embroidery techniques
    • Strong knowledge of cost estimating and designing to specified cost restraints for soft goods
  • Digital tool experience preferred (PLM, Adobe Illustrator, CAD familiarity)
  • Experience working directly with overseas vendors and factories (China, Vietnam, or similar manufacturing hubs)
  • Familiarity with CPSIA and plush safety standards (domestic & international)
  • Protects company assets through the proper management of asset files and adherence to company policy with regard to information security and management.

Education requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Fashion Technology, Industrial Design, or a related field

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements. A full and complete copy of the Job Description is available upon request.
Want to Know More?
To learn more about our company, check out our web site at: www.Lumistella.com.
The Lumistella Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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