Merchandising Senior Manager is responsible for her/his assigned category in the different channels in Japan and Islands (Retail/ E-commerce).
Role Mission
Merchandising Senior Manager is responsible for her/his assigned category in the different channels in Japan and Islands (Retail/ E-commerce). She/He will take care of all the activity with Omnichannel mindset (Buying, Network/Distribution, Markdown) to ensure the full potential performance as well as cross-functional cooperation with other departments to achieve the regional target and Sell-Through results.
Key Accountabilities
Buying and allocation:
- Implement and translate the WW buying strategy at regional level based on market's specificities/priorities
- Guarantee the coordination of the image (through the buy) in the region and by store
- Coordinate the buying choices within the region with the objective of fully exploiting the WW product strategy
- Coordinate special projects across categories during the buying campaign (capsules, precious skin, caravans..)
- Guarantee that the Carry Over proposal is consistently monitored and revised to its full potential by store with localized strategies
- Coordinate and collaborate across various Regional Functions on launches, new store openings, re-stylings, closures, events...
- In season analysis and strategy proposal to optimize assortments by store
- Manage the stock in the Region across different channels (Retail-Ecom)
- Rationalize and monitor stores' assortment (Newness vs Carryover)
- Define the rules for stock distribution of Newness & Carry Over (Launch and in-season stock transfer)
- Work on reorders to take from Corporate Bulk or from other regions
- Work with Corporate Merchandising team in the development and execution of merchandise assortment and buying
- Conduct product training for relevant regional functions including store team before the launch of new season
Analysis and Feedback:
- Monitor sales and sell-through and initiate appropriate strategies and tactics to optimize stock and boost sales
- Monitor category business to maximize business priorities/ opportunities
- Review of Competitor & Pricing analysis
- Collect and share qualitative comments on business to Corporate Merchandising counterparts
- Coordination with local Inventory Planning on delivery checks and newness allocation
- Organize Store Visits on a regular basis to gather qualitative feedback on clients and product trends
- Share periodical feedback to the Corporate Team
- Monitor sales performance and activate tactical needs accordingly
- Analyze stock level, delivery status and merchandise allocation to identify growth opportunities
Store Visits:
- Conduct regular store visits (Miu Miu & competitors) based on business needs
- Help to clarify assortments and product buying strategies to store teams (Newness & Carry Over)
- Help to highlight key product information to store teams already communicated in order to emphasize their importance
- Participate and collaborate with the Local Team to secure product knowledge in stores
- Work closely with VM and ROP, spend time in stores and closely monitor the clientele behavior and the market specificities
Merchandise Planning:
- Highlight full potential opportunities per store, with bottom-up sales plan and forecast by store and category
- Conduct sales plan reviews with regional Controlling team to ensure the potential opportunity
- Evaluate sales potential by event/store to define the OTB split at category level
- Evaluate the sales potential of products and collections by functions, lines, and price ranges to cover different customer segments and nationalities
Visual Merchandising:
- Give Strategic input for visual set-ups in alignment with VM and ROP based on business needs to boost store performance
- Provide VM with all necessary Buying information to help facilitate implementation of strategies
- Closely work together with VM on New Launch strategies to secure successful Newness launches
- Work together with other Merchandising Team members on cross-category proposal to give VM complete visibility to execute actions
- Continuously share updates in Carry Over assortment & performance to fine tune Carry Over displays
- Share performance feedback and visual priorities (Newness & Carry Over) to help VM implement strategies that will benefit the business
Qualifications
- Experience in retail environment with hands-on knowledge of retail processes and procedures
- Strong accuracy & precision for analytical abilities
- Experience in using Excel and BI tools to monitor performance and KPIs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills both in Japanese and English
- Collaborative skills to work cross-functionally in a team environment
- Availability to travel