Head of Product Merchandising, Bags & Accessories - 12 Month FTC

Working at Stella McCartney is a truly rewarding experience. As a luxury fashion company with a strong ethical standpoint we are leaders and innovators in our industry.

Overview: The Head of Merchandising, Bags & Accessories, reporting into the Chief Merchandising Officer, is responsible for developing and executing the merchandising strategy for the accessories and footwear categories globally. This role will lead a team to ensure that the product assortment aligns with the brand’s vision, meets financial targets and satisfies customer needs. The role involves a deep understanding of the target customer, market trends, and product assortment. The role, alongside their team of Merchandisers, works closely with cross-functional teams, including design, marketing, and sales, and will possess a deep understanding of the luxury market, a strong analytical mind and a passion for sustainable fashion.

Your Mission:

• Develop the global product strategy for Accessories, Bags and Footwear categories assigned in line with objectives defined by the Chief Merchandising Officer.
• Interprets market needs/trends and supplies to the identification of the various customer targets: evaluating lifestyle, attitude, behaviour and spending capacity of luxury consumers.
• Assures the execution of competitive analysis (product mix and pricing), sales analysis (sell-in and sell-out for all regions) and gives to the pricing strategy in line with the consumer segmentation definitions and profit goals.
• Carries out market and competitor's analysis in terms of product and pricing positioning in the different markets.
• Preparation of the “Range Plan”, which defines the offer structure of each collection in terms of breadth, depth and the positioning of each relevant product, using market analysis to predict trends and lead product direction.
• Supports the Design Team in the development of collections, in order to find the optimal balance between design vision and commercial goals, taking into consideration regional consumer peculiarities and local sale needs.
• Management of the merchandising mix of the LNLG, SNLG, Accessories and Footwear Accessories categories.
• Defines and proposes the carryover product list with the collaboration of Regional Buyers, by identifying potential best-selling items to be exploited in more collections and by containing relevant mark-downs.
• Monitor replenishments of continuative items.
• Management of the "Product Knowledge & Cross-selling Book" - Preparation of Training /Product Guide.
• Prepares collection presentations for Buyers Regional Management and sales team to explain direction inspiration, product and all relevant information necessary to support and promote sales, including new products and new techniques.
• Post sales campaign reporting: sell in comments.
• Presents new collections during the overview to relevant corporate and regional functions and defines regional buying guidelines (i.e. appropriate assortments of styles, materials, colours, etc.); moreover, generates training and support information for retail representative and sales force.
• Responsible for coordinating raw material bulk orders, sales projections in order to achieve target deliveries.
• Reviews all regional “open to buy”, sales plans, and order/re-order schedules in order to align local business plans to global category strategy.
• Responsible for providing product information for internal training and information formats, including ‘Collection Story’ videos and product manuals.
• Collaborate with and collate analysis and through our various sales channels; Retail, Wholesale, Franchise & E-Commerce, to feed into recommendations for future product and carryover merchandise.
• Liaises with the Supply Chain and Operations/Production Departments in order to:

• Development of product specifications and functionality
• Assure product delivery priorities in line with local commercial needs and market strategy
• Assure the necessary stock production in line with sale trend and for potential best-selling products

Your Talent:

• Commercially astute with the ability to identify business opportunities and streamline processes for profitability and efficiency.
• Budgeting and cost management experience.
• Previous experience as a Merchandising Manager/Head of Merchandising with a global luxury or contemporary brand.
• Demonstrable experience of line management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of luxury market.
• Experience of defining merchandise plans with successful execution.
• Experience of E-Commerce sales channel and the digital market place.
• Experience of influencing profitability of merchandise and collections and encouraging substantial category performance growth.
• Experience of reaching and exceeding planned profit margin through successful merchandising planning.
• Prioritise and multi-task various and challenging demands.

Reward: Our philosophy is to go beyond monetary return and consider ourselves responsible for your wellbeing, your family, your health, your time and the community.

• Up to 50% discount on Stella McCartney products
• Matched pension contribution up to 6%
• Extensive private medical and critical illness insurance, as well as life assurance
• Annual Health Screening
• 25 days annual leave (not including Bank Holidays) + 1 day of Birthday leave
• Flexible working/core hours
• Enhanced Maternity/paternity packages
• Matched Give as You Earn charity scheme
• Discounted gym and fitness memberships (Classpass)
• Health cash plan
• Physical and Mental Wellbeing Support Services
• Employee referral bonus
• Optional/ Paid Benefits: Season ticket loan, cycle to work and tech schemes, travel and dental insurance and much more.

We welcome people with disabilities and endeavour to make reasonable adjustments, if you do require such adjustments please let us know within 48 hours of your interview.

At Stella McCartney, we like to be bold. For us this means challenging ourselves and the wider industry in which we operate. As part of our commitments to inclusive fashion, we have an ambitious strategy to put diversity, equity and inclusion at the centre of everything we do. Our starting point is to create a workplace where different voices are respected, heard and empowered in equal measure regardless of factors such as culture and backgrounds, and to influence and disrupt fashion and other industries by providing opportunities for global diverse talent to shine.