Merchandising Director-Luxury

1.Strategic Merchandising Leadership: Aligning Global Product Vision with Local Market Needs​​

• Develop and execute the ​​Greater China merchandising strategy (seasonal/yearly)​​, aligning with global product roadmaps while identifying and advocating for localized opportunities (e.g., category prioritization, sizing adaptation, cultural relevance) to meet the unique demands of Chinese consumers.
• Act as the ​​primary voice of the Greater China market​​ within global merchandising and product development teams, providing insights on local trends, consumer preferences, and competitive dynamics to influence global product decisions.
• Collaborate with the General Manager and commercial teams (Retail, E-commerce, Marketing) to ensure merchandising plans support overall business objectives (e.g., revenue growth, margin targets, inventory efficiency) and are tailored to China's regional nuances.

​​2. Assortment Planning & Localization: Curating a Relevant and Differentiated Product Offering​​

• Lead the ​​China-specific assortment planning process​​, selecting and optimizing product categories to maximize appeal to local tastes while maintaining brand coherence.
• Drive ​​localized product adaptation​​ where needed in collaboration with global design, production, and sourcing teams.
• Ensure the product mix balances ​​core bestsellers, seasonal novelties, and exclusive/localized pieces​​ to drive traffic, conversion, and customer loyalty across channels (retail stores, e-commerce, and duty-free).

​​3. Seasonal Planning & Allocation: Ensuring Optimal Stock Availability and Commercial Performance​​

• Oversee the ​​end-to-end seasonal merchandising cycle​​ for China (pre-season planning, range finalization, allocation, and in-season adjustments), collaborating with global teams to secure product availability that meets local demand forecasts.
• Develop and manage ​​China-specific allocation strategies​​, ensuring the right products are distributed to the right stores/channels (e.g., flagship stores, high-traffic malls, online flagship) at the right time to maximize sell-through and minimize markdowns.
• Monitor ​​in-season performance​​ (sales velocity, stock levels, turnover ratios) using advanced analytics, and lead agile adjustments (e.g., re-allocation, promotions, product transfers) to optimize profitability and inventory health.

​​4. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Driving Alignment Across Commercial, Supply Chain, and Creative Teams​​

• Partner closely with ​​Retail, E-commerce, and Marketing teams​​ to align merchandising plans with channel-specific strategies and ensure product storytelling resonates with Chinese consumers.
• Collaborate with ​​Global Sourcing, Production, and Logistics teams​​ to manage lead times, quality control, and delivery schedules for China, mitigating risks related to supply chain disruptions or challenges.
• Work with ​​Finance and Commercial teams​​ to ensure merchandising plans are financially viable (e.g., gross margin targets, cost-to-serve, inventory ROI) and contribute to overall P&L health in Greater China.

​​5. Data-Driven Decision Making & Consumer Insights​​

• Leverage ​​advanced analytics tools​​ (e.g., POS data, CRM insights, market trend reports) to identify growth opportunities, forecast demand, and refine assortment and allocation strategies.
• Conduct ​​consumer behaviour analysis​​ (e.g., purchasing patterns, category preferences, regional differences) to inform product selection, sizing, and marketing support, ensuring the merchandise offering is both aspirational and accessible.
• Stay ahead of ​​luxury lifestyle trends in China​​ (e.g., sustainability, digital-native consumption, cultural heritage revival) and proactively recommend adjustments to the product strategy to maintain relevance.