Retail Manager - Europe

Job Scope:

Establish the overall retail strategy in Europe, and to implement it to all boutiques effectively. Ensure that all boutiques achieve set income and profit targets.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Retail Strategy

• Manage the operations, day to day, sales, compliance to the OPP, in all boutiques in Europe, and ensure that all achieve set income and profit targets.
• Set and implement short- and long-term retail strategy, plans and objectives based on corporate goals in order to optimize the achievement of revenue, profit and growth targets.
• Periodically undertake market research studies and analysis to review and develop strategy and business plans accordingly.
• Maximize sales and expansion opportunities.
• Set standards for sales, rotation and loss and monitor boutiques P&L.
• Lead brand’s growth geographically: research and identify potential markets and propose new boutique locations based on commercial market studies and analysis.
• Develop and communicate retail related policies and procedures in coordination with the Retail Director, Managing Director and concerned Head of Departments.
• Follow up on KPIs, selling ceremonies, customer experience and journey.

Product Life Cycle Management

• Analyze the market segment at which the product is aimed as well as prices and competition.
• Manage collection buying and orders to all boutiques based on sales reports, market segmentation and clients' feedback.
• Coordinate the distribution of products to the boutiques based on markets, quotas, and goals.
• Control and supervise orders’ quantities, inventory results and sales preparations.
• Ensure merchandise is delivered to boutiques on time, priced and well displayed.
• Recommend additions/withdrawals of merchandise to the boutiques.
• Review, evaluate and report boutiques’ sales figures, cost of inventory, operational expenses and inventory loss in order to determine targets’ achievements.
• Provide suggestions to management on how to maximize profits and reduce loss at every boutique level.
• Develop action plans to follow up on discrepancies as required and take full ownership and accountability over the boutiques’ P&L account.
• Perform periodic site visits and make sure store and brand image are always maintained at required standards.
• Manage warehouses operation in coordination with Inventory Control Department.
• Plan layout of stock rooms, warehouses and other storage areas taking into consideration product turnover and quantities as well as other essential factors.
• Plan and organize retail related events (promotions, sales…) in coordination with the concerned departments and suppliers.
• Supervise the visual merchandising activity and determine merchandising layouts that are appealing to customers to obtain optimum efficiency of operations with minimum cost and maximize profits.

Customer Relationship Management

• Ensure customer satisfaction is kept at high standards.
• Develop and promoting customer retention strategies.

Retail Personnel Management

• Make sure all stores are always adequately staffed.
• Coordinate with HR Department on recruiting, developing, and evaluating boutique managers and sales teams.
• Coordinate with Learning Department on training boutique managers and sales teams.
• Take a lead role in building a strong sales management culture; coach boutique managers, assess team performance, identify skills and opportunities for development and provide advice and guidance when needed.
• Prepare and provide training sessions to boutique managers and sales teams on new collections and products.
• Coordinate with HR Department, Retail Director and Managing Director on setting KPI’s, compensation and incentive plans in order to improve teams’ performances and retention.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, MBA is a plus

Experience:

• At least 12 years in a managerial operational position in the high-end retail fashion industry

Competencies:

• Strong analytical, communication and negotiation skills
• Strong problem solving, dealing with complexities and decision-making skills
• Leadership and senior team management skills
• High drive and results oriented
• Ability to manage a portfolio of around $25M
• Takes initiative
• Lead by example
• Good team player with the internal stakeholders
• Commercial savvy with the luxury
• Accountable for the buying budget
• Management of stock and inventory