Merchandising Manager

Job description

The Oldest Fine Leather Goods House in the World
Founded in 1829, Delvaux is a truly Belgian brand. In fact, it was even born before the Kingdom of Belgium, which was only established one year later, in 1830.

Created in Brussels by the innovative Charles Delvaux, la Maison has remained at the forefront of luxury leather goods for nearly two centuries because of its savoir-faire, uncompromising craftsmanship and the outstanding quality of its creations.

Delvaux Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0j0zMebgbI

JOB SUMMARY

The Delvaux Merchandising Manager plays a crucial role in balancing the Maison's creative vision with commercial success. This position contributes to maximizing sales and profit by ensuring Delvaux products reach the right customers at the right time through market analysis, product planning, inventory management, and the development and execution of sales strategies. Specifically, the role requires a deep understanding of the value of Delvaux's rich history and exceptional craftsmanship in leather goods, along with the ability to formulate and execute strategies tailored to the Japan market.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Strategy Development and Execution:

• Deeply understand Delvaux's brand concept and world view, and analyze Japanese market trends, customer needs, and competitive landscape.
• Develop and execute annual and seasonal product strategies, buying plans, and sales plans.
• Collaborate with the global merchandising team to determine the optimal product assortment (selection, quantity, price range) for the Japan market.
• Lead new product introduction projects in collaboration with the worldwide team.

Inventory Management and Optimization:

• Manage the entire product lifecycle from procurement to sales, maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
• Analyze sales data and market trends to optimize inventory, maximize sales opportunities, and minimize obsolete stock.
• Develop and execute product allocation plans for stores.

Sales Promotion and Analysis:

• Develop sales promotion strategies and execute them in collaboration with marketing, VMD (Visual Merchandising), and retail teams.
• Conduct detailed analysis of sales data, customer feedback, and market research results to formulate sales reviews and action plans.
• Support the proposal and implementation of merchandising and in-store promotions for retail stores.

Budget Management and Reporting:

• Manage budgets related to sales, profit, and inventory for the assigned category, and perform budget vs. actuals control.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely and communicate smoothly with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including retail, marketing, VMD, and supply chain teams
• Especially in collaboration with the global team, utilize business-level English proficiency to accurately convey the needs of the Japanese market and negotiate effectively

Qualifications:

• Required Experience:
  • Minimum of 3 years of practical experience in merchandising (MD) within a luxury brand or fashion industry, with a strong emphasis on planning experience
  • Data analysis skills and the ability to formulate and execute strategies based on data
  • Business-level proficiency in both Japanese and English (reading, writing, conversation). Strong negotiation and communication skills in English are particularly required due to frequent communication with global headquarters

• Desired Skills & Personal Attributes:
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as negotiation abilities
  • Enjoys change, maintains constant curiosity, and is committed to achieving results
  • Prefers working in a team and can collaborate effectively
  • Strong numerical aptitude and logical thinking skills

Preferred Experience/Skills:

• Experience in the luxury consumer goods industry