At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow our global wholesale business in the fashion and streetwear industry.
- Company: Footasylum, a leading UK retailer focused on youth culture and innovation.
- Benefits: Career development opportunities, supportive environment, and a fun workplace culture.
- Other info: Join us in Greater Manchester for a dynamic, collaborative work experience.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion world while working with passionate teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in wholesale leadership and a strong understanding of youth culture.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Footasylum is a leading UK-based retailer specialising in streetwear and sportswear, committed to delivering innovative and trend-setting products to our customers, with a strong focus on digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.
The Role
We are looking for a commercially driven, strategically minded Wholesale Director to lead and grow our global wholesale business.
Operating at the centre of fashion, youth culture, and retail, this role will be responsible for developing and executing the wholesale strategy, expanding distribution, strengthening key partner relationships, and delivering sustainable revenue growth while protecting the integrity and desirability of the brand.
About You
You will be someone who embodies the Footasylum values - Collaboration, Communication & Challenge.
You will be an expert in UK culture and a brand fanatic.
You will combine strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of youth culture, fashion trends, consumer behaviour, and the evolving retail landscape.
You will work cross functionally with Sales, Product, Marketing, Operations and Finance to ensure best in class execution across all wholesale channels.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Strategy & Business Growth
- Develop and execute the global wholesale strategy aligned to the brand's commercial objectives and long-term vision.
- Identify and secure new wholesale opportunities across key markets and territories.
- Drive sales growth, profitability, and market share through strategic account development.
- Build annual and seasonal sales plans, budgets, forecasts, and growth initiatives.
- Analyse market trends, competitor activity, consumer insights, and retail performance to identify opportunities and risks.
- Ensure wholesale distribution supports both commercial growth and brand positioning.
- Account Management
- Lead relationships with key wholesale partners, department stores, specialist retailers, and strategic marketplace accounts.
- Negotiate commercial agreements, trading terms, pricing structures, and seasonal buys.
- Drive strong account performance through joint business planning and collaborative growth strategies.
- Maintain regular business reviews with key partners and senior stakeholders.
- Manage escalation and resolution of commercial issues.
- Lead, coach, and develop the wholesale sales team to achieve ambitious sales targets.
- Establish clear KPIs and performance management frameworks.
- Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
- Support succession planning and talent development within the team.
- Brand & Distribution Management
- Ensure all wholesale partnerships align with brand values, positioning, and target consumer.
- Protect brand equity by maintaining appropriate distribution strategies and partner selection.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Brand teams to maximise visibility, sell-through, and consumer engagement.
- Champion a consumer-first and culture-led approach across all wholesale initiatives.
- Product & Seasonal Planning
- Partner with Product, Design, and Merchandising teams to ensure wholesale assortments meet market demand.
- Provide customer, market, and channel insights to inform future collections and product strategy.
- Lead seasonal sell-in and account planning processes.
- Monitor sell-through performance and recommend actions to optimise inventory and sales.
- Operational Excellence
- Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations teams to ensure effective order management and delivery performance.
- Drive improvements in forecasting accuracy, stock management, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure compliance with business processes, contractual obligations, and trading standards.
- Own wholesale revenue, margin, and profitability performance.
- Develop annual budgets and financial forecasts.
- Monitor performance against targets and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Deliver regular reporting and presentations to executive leadership.
Skills/Experience
- Significant experience in a senior wholesale leadership role within fashion, lifestyle, footwear, streetwear, or youth culture brands.
- Proven track record of delivering substantial revenue growth through wholesale channels.
- Strong understanding of global retail, wholesale, and distribution networks.
- Experience managing major retail accounts and strategic partnerships.
- Excellent commercial negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, forecasts, and P&L performance.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing sales teams.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience working with international distributors and agents.
- Knowledge of omnichannel retail and digital wholesale platforms.
- Existing network within the fashion, streetwear culture retail landscape.
- Experience operating within a fast-growth consumer brand
Why Footasylum?
We are one of the leading omni-channel retailers across the UK, but more than that we are a brilliant place to work.
We value you and your development.
We have loads of examples of people moving upwards, across to other departments and given training to excel their personal and professional skills.
Our aim is to create a fun environment, where your success is paramount to ours and you are given the right tools, support, and platform to achieve your goals.
Diversity
We recognise and value the importance of diversity to help make sure we have lots of different perspectives when we are building services to customers and the wider business.
This is great news for our business.
Diversity for us is also, importantly, about building happy teams full of people that want to learn and want to be inspired by each other and our different experiences and backgrounds.
We value open and honest conversations and collaboration, giving you a chance to learn about what we are doing in an informal and friendly environment.
We want to know about you and why you feel that this is the opportunity for you.
Please note, this is not a remote role, and our expectation is that you will be able to attend Head Office/Studio in a hybrid way, in Greater Manchester.
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Wholesale Director in Manchester employer: Footasylum
Footasylum is an excellent employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, particularly in the vibrant retail environment of Merry Hill. With a strong focus on training, support, and progression opportunities, you will be empowered to thrive in your role as Assistant Store Manager while contributing to a dynamic team dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Our inclusive work culture celebrates diversity and innovation, ensuring that every team member can influence our retail standards and enjoy a fulfilling career journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Wholesale Director in Manchester
✨Get to Know the Industry Events
Dive into wholesale distribution trade shows and local industry meet-ups. These events are gold mines for networking and can even lead to job leads. Plus, getting face time with companies like Footasylum can make you stand out!
✨Connect with Industry Professionals
Join online forums and communities specific to wholesale distribution. Places like LinkedIn groups or industry-specific Slack channels can put you in touch with insiders who know about the latest job openings at companies like Footasylum before they even get posted.
✨Tailor Your Approach to Distribution Roles
When you apply for full-time roles, make sure your interactions highlight your understanding of supply chain management and logistics. Companies like Footasylum want to see that you get the bigger picture and can contribute to their efficiency!
✨Follow Up Like a Pro
After you've sent in your application, don't be shy! Follow up with a brief message to express your enthusiasm for the role. This not only shows initiative but keeps your name fresh in the minds of recruiters at Footasylum.
We think you need these skills to ace Wholesale Director in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Distribution Know-How:For a role in wholesale distribution, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with supply chain management or logistics. Make sure to detail any relevant projects or roles on your CV that show you understand how products move from point A to point B efficiently.
Quantify Your Achievements:When crafting your CV, don’t just list tasks; instead, focus on achievements that can be quantified. For example, mention how you increased delivery efficiency by a percentage or managed a specific number of vendors. Numbers stand out and prove you can make a difference at Footasylum.
Tailored Cover Letter Approach:In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about wholesale distribution and what excites you about the specific challenges at Footasylum. Show us you’ve done some research on the company, and mention any values or initiatives they have that resonate with you.
Highlight Team Collaboration Skills:Since wholesale distribution often requires working closely with teams, emphasise your teamwork skills in your application. Include examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues, suppliers, or stakeholders to improve operations or resolve issues.
How to prepare for a job interview at Footasylum
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
In the wholesale distribution sector, being able to analyse market trends and inventory data is key. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inventory management issues or implemented solutions that improved efficiency; this will show Footasylum that you can handle the analytical side of the role.
✨Know Your Logistics Inside Out
Since logistics play a massive part in wholesale distribution, it's vital to familiarise yourself with the tools and software used in the industry, like ERP systems or supply chain management platforms. Mention any experience you have with these tools during the interview to impress Footasylum.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that revolve around real-life situations in wholesale distribution, such as how you'd handle supply chain disruptions or manage relationships with suppliers. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies on these topics to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Long-Term Potential
As you're applying for a full-time role, Footasylum will want to see your commitment to growing within the organisation. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how this role aligns with your goals, emphasising that you are in it for the long haul!
