At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead wholesale strategy and drive growth with major and indie retailers.
- Company: Female-founded brand redefining intimates for a new generation of women.
- Benefits: Creative culture, impactful work, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Join us to empower women and reshape the intimates industry.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in apparel wholesale and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
Cou Cou is a female founded, purpose-driven, impact brand, redefining intimate-essentials for a new generation of women by bridging the gap between our lingerie and underwear drawer. Our mission is to reclaim the narrative of our intimates, celebrate our embodied female experience, everyday & reduce the environmental impact of our most disposed-of garments.
Role Overview
We are seeking an exceptional Wholesale Manager or Director to join our team and drive the next phase of our wholesale expansion. This role will hold full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel encompassing strategy, sales, operational excellence, and team leadership. The Wholesale Manager/Director will be responsible not only for driving growth with existing accounts but also for forging strong new partnerships with both major players and independent retailers. With full P&L responsibility, this person will balance commercial growth with disciplined account management to ensure healthy margins and premium brand positioning.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Channel Ownership
- Full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel, shaping the short- and long-term strategy.
- Full P&L responsibility for wholesale, ensuring profitable growth.
- Build the right balance of majors (for volume) and indie doors (for discovery and touch point for Cou Cou girls).
Account Development & Growth
- Drive growth with existing wholesale partners, ensuring strong, long-term relationships.
- Establish new relationships with key doors globally, leveraging an extensive existing network.
- Implement effective seasonal sell-in strategies to achieve ambitious sales targets.
Global & Regional Market Expertise
- Knowledge of regional market dynamics (e.g., EU, US, Middle East, APAC)
- Experience with international compliance and regulation
- Ability to manage currency, tax, and duty implications across markets.
- Market entry strategy: assessing and prioritising new regions.
- Not just sell-through analysis but also market-level reporting
Market & Product Expertise
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of the apparel wholesale market, retail landscape, and buying cycles.
- Ensure Cou Cou’s wholesale assortment is aligned with market needs while protecting brand positioning.
- Demonstrate expertise in working with continuity products to optimize re-orders and drive consistent growth.
- Own all wholesale forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
- Monitor and analyse sell-through data to ensure targets are met and overstock/markdowns are avoided.
- Feed insights from sell-through back to product, merchandising, and DTC teams.
Cross-Functional Impact
- Partner closely with the DTC team to ensure Cou Cou is available to try on in all key and growing regions.
- Work with marketing to create impactful wholesale activations that drive discovery, sell-through and enhance brand reputation.
- Organize and execute all seasonal showrooms, from strategy, taking orders, to final delivery.
Operations & Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor a small team, including an allocator and operations assistant, ensuring accurate and timely order fulfillment.
- Work closely with operations and logistics to guarantee seamless delivery to accounts worldwide.
- Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and growth within the wholesale function.
Qualifications & Experience
- 5+ years experience in apparel wholesale
- Extensive network of key buyers and decision-makers across major retailers and influential boutiques.
- Proven track record of growing wholesale revenue while protecting premium brand positioning.
- Strong understanding of continuity product strategies and their role in consistent growth.
- Commercially astute with extensive experience in P&L ownership, forecasting, and budgeting.
- Highly analytical mindset with proven ability to monitor sell-through and optimize results.
- Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Experience leading and developing small teams.
- Hustle, agility, and resilience to thrive in a high-energy, entrepreneurial environment.
Why Join Us
At Cou Cou Intimates, we are committed to fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous growth. As an integral member of our team, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and shape the future of our brand. Join us in redefining the intimates industry and empowering women to feel confident & comfortable. Everyday.
Application Process
If you are a visionary leader with a passion for wholesale, please apply via careers@coucouintimates.com with subject: application // Wholesale Manager
Position Details
- Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
- Employment type: Full-time
- Job function: Sales and Business Development
- Industries: Apparel & Fashion
Note: This refined description removes unrelated listings and focuses on the core role, responsibilities, and qualifications for the Wholesale Manager/Director position.
Community & Marketing employer: Cou Cou Intimates
At Cou Cou Intimates, we pride ourselves on being a female-founded, purpose-driven brand that champions creativity and collaboration in the intimate apparel industry. Our vibrant work culture encourages personal and professional growth, offering employees the chance to make a meaningful impact while working alongside passionate individuals dedicated to empowering women. Join us in our mission to redefine intimates and enjoy the unique advantage of being part of a forward-thinking team in a dynamic and environmentally conscious environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community & Marketing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the apparel and fashion industry, especially those who might know someone at Cou Cou. A personal introduction can make all the difference in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with someone from Cou Cou, be ready to discuss market trends and your insights on the wholesale landscape. This will demonstrate your passion and knowledge about the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see an opportunity to collaborate or suggest ideas that could benefit Cou Cou’s wholesale strategy, don’t hesitate to share them. This shows initiative and that you’re already thinking about how to contribute.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Cou Cou team and its mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Community & Marketing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for the brand and its mission shine through. We want to see how you connect with our purpose-driven approach and how you can contribute to redefining the intimates industry.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in wholesale and apparel. We’re looking for someone who understands the market dynamics and can demonstrate a proven track record of driving growth while maintaining premium brand positioning.
Be Specific:Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate your achievements. Whether it’s about building relationships with key buyers or managing P&L responsibilities, we want to see concrete evidence of your skills and successes.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply via our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cou Cou Intimates
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the apparel wholesale market and understand the dynamics of the regions Cou Cou operates in. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key players, and potential challenges. This knowledge will not only impress but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Network
Since this role requires strong relationships with buyers and decision-makers, be ready to discuss your existing network. Prepare examples of how you've leveraged these connections in past roles to drive growth and establish partnerships. This will demonstrate your ability to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for P&L Discussions
Given the full P&L responsibility, brush up on your financial acumen. Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and how you've managed profitability in previous roles. Use specific examples to illustrate your commercial savvy and analytical mindset.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership Skills
As a Wholesale Manager/Director, you'll be leading a small team. Share your leadership philosophy and provide examples of how you've mentored and developed team members in the past. Highlight your ability to foster a culture of accountability and excellence, which aligns with Cou Cou's values.
