Merchandise Manager - Europe Retail Stores

Company Description

Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers has spent nearly 30 years helping men, women and kids everywhere look and feel good. Developing comfort technologies is at the foundation of all that we do—delivering stylish, innovative, and quality products at a reasonable price. From our diverse footwear offering to a growing range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.

With international business representing over half of our total sales, we have product available in more than 170 countries and significant opportunities for continued expansion worldwide. We sell our collections direct to consumers through more than 4,000 Skechers stores around the globe and Skechers e-commerce sites, as well as through a network of third-party partners.

Job Description

Oversee all aspects of the merchandise selection, inventory procurement for European Company owned retail stores and E-commerce.  Achieve company sales targets utilizing factors such as OTB (open to buy), localized market needs, seasonal trends, and SKU management requirements. Guide merchant team to ensure optimal assortment selections across multiple store formats that include flagship, mall base, and factory outlets. Collaborate with EU Head of merchandising and allocations team based abroad, and USA counterparts to ensure consistent brand message and global store standards are executed.

Essential Job Results

• Collaborate and work closely with USA Merchandise / Planning team and EU Merchandise team to create elevated, compelling, and trend right assortments that reflect global key initiatives and local needs.
• Manage and guide Buying team for optimal product placement, localized in-store inventory needs, sales execution and end of season stock elimination. 
• Lead weekly, monthly, seasonal sales analysis review meetings to develop tactical actions that drive sales.
• Develop assortment plans tailored to the EU market based on store volume, sku count capabilities, and store capacities to ensure appropriate depth is achieved by store volume and size.
• Develop assortment plans for Ecom platforms in multiple EU countries with emphasis on global consistency of key initiatives and individual market needs. 
• Review product sell thru, pricing opportunities, with emphasis on store and Ecom opportunities.   
• Preview and contribute insights to annual budgets for top line sales and OTB targets outlined by planning department.   
• Collaborate on in-store marketing initiatives supporting local holidays and key selling periods.
• Partner with EU Head of Merchandising and EU allocations team to ensure assortment vision is executed.   
• Initiate sell down strategies for end of season and slow selling product. 
• Engage with local field team to ensure the highest standards of brand image, store presentation, and merchandising focus is effectively communicated within the retail store environment.  
• Cultivate business relations with Domestic and Global wholesale team with emphasis on shared communication of product knowledge and marketing strategies that help to alien the retail and wholesale landscape in Europe. 

Job Requirements

• Possess gifted intellect for merchandising, planning and analytical attributes that drive sales and expand Skechers retail presence.
• Leadership experience in allocations and inventory alignment.
• Strong knowledge of Footwear retail landscape.   
• Detail oriented and ability to multi-task, prioritizes, and manages team members.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills; proficient in Microsoft Excel including advanced applications such as pivot tables, V look ups. 
• Broad-based business acumen

Qualifications

• Must have a bachelor’s degree preferably with a business background.
• 3-5 years of buying experience, preferably in footwear and/or apparel.
• 1-3 years store allocation experience, preferably in footwear and/or apparel.

Additional Information

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS-

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk; sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel. The employee is occasionally required to sit for long period of times.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The Salary range for this position is $90-120K