The In-Season Merchandising Manager is integral to implementing and delivering to the agreed merchandise strategy in their market of responsibility.
As the merchandise expert in the market of responsibility, the In-Season Merchandise Manager manages the In-Season Merchandise team. This team is the binding element between the local market and the regional buying and planning teams by providing relevant and quantifiable feedback on local requirements.
Working in collaboration with local stakeholders, the In-Season Merchandise Manager is the final decision maker for the definition of demand driven store attributes for the clustering process, the assignment of stores to clusters and managing the store capacity for the planned option count.
There are three primary focuses for this role;
- Represent local product and act as a local market specialist
- Local merchandise management and allocation to achieve desired sales, inventory turn and sell through objectives
- Elevation of the brand through the alignment with Visual Merchandising, Marketing & Communications, Sales & Logistic (the right product in the right place at the right time)
Responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:
- Working with regional planning and buying teams to formulate local product requirements
- Delivering merchandise performance targets and KPIs
- Compiling detailed insight into local market trends and requirements (competitor analysis, post season analysis)
- Evaluating cluster module requirements for RAP based on local knowledge
- Providing product support and training for retail operations and store staff
- Manage allocations and delivery inflow to stores
- Drive full price sell through and profitability by managing in-season processes like inter-store transfers and consolidations
- Work with Merchandise Planner on OTB RMP process to highlight opportunities and risks during the season
- In conjunction with the Managing Director and Merchandise Planner, devise and Implement the markdown strategy to achieve financial and inventory targets
- Provide planning team with requested forecast information during the season
- Work with local supply chain team to ensure efficient stock flow into stores
- Managing all locally relevant merchandise processes from performance analytics to execution in the system
The role requires an individual who:
- Is results driven
- Can lead by example
- Demonstrates initiative
- Ability to speak Chinese and Cantonese will be ideal (communicate with business partner)
- Addresses issues quickly, ensuring minimal impact to the business
- Has an eye for detail and the ability to think critically and logically
- Combines business acumen and an understanding of the market and fashion trends to ensure an inspiring assortment for our stores
- Traveling to the stores for the purpose of in market support, reviews and feedback as well as to the regional headquarter for regional product and buying meetings is part of the scope of this role.
