Manager Merchandising & Ranging Apparel & Accessories

Manager Merchandising & Ranging Apparel & Accessories

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

Create, build and execute Europe Account Marketing and product assortment plan that delivers significant business and market share growth within the assigned Foot Locker Europe key account. Working in close co-operation with the European Alliance Key Account Sales Teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with marketing and sales, define, create and execute the product strategy and proposition within the assigned Foot Locker Europe key account ensuring brand and customer satisfaction goals are met
• Within the identified AKA, develop, execute and manage the optimum apparel and accessories category / product assortment to deliver against the agreed targets, including retail price strategy, forecasting consolidation and phasing approach
• In conjunction with EU category BU teams, Global SMU and sales, create and deliver the account product strategy and roadmap
• Creation of a seasonal product roll out calendar incorporating all relevant categories and franchises
• Accountable for briefing and delivery of SMU products and managing the process
• Drive sales and market share growth ensuring all commercial and strategic goals are met
• Build, execute and manage the range proposition process from virtual download to sales launch, including pre line process and ensuring smooth account interaction process
• Ensure share of space especially in key locations and doors
• In conjunction with the range architecture team, Global SMU and sales define the account product strategy and roadmap
• Understand range needs from all European market countries and channels for the specific account
• Provide regular analysis of sell-through performance of all fascias to the relevant category teams and contribute to strategic planning based on that analysis
• Manage inline / SMU / M-3 and DP, forecasting process for account
• Be the point of contact both internally and externally for the product / ranging process for specified account
• Closely co-operate with Global Brand teams (most importantly GTM, Merchandising, and BUs) to secure the best practice level of implementation of global brand and product strategy
• Conduct relevant reporting activities to measure the efficiency and commercial success of the range season over season
• Collaborate with EU Demand Planning team and SCM functions as appropriate
• Understand the European consumer retail environment including distribution points, share of buy, competitor ranges and pricing strategies
• Secure visibility of account range proposition to relevant country and global teams through systems management and communication process.

Key Relationships:

• Buying teams within the assigned Foot Locker Europe Key Account (AKA) organization
• AKA sales teams
• Global Brands: Category Teams, Business Units
• European Market Functions: Category Business Units, Range Architecture, SCM, AKA, Finance/ Demand Planning, Business Development
• Retail, Wholesale and eCommerce

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• High professional maturity
• Highly collaborative with strong communication skills
• High influencing skills and ability to make fact-based decisions
• Strong analytical skills
• Structured, organized and process orientated
• Previous experience in Category Management, Merchandising or Product Management
• Strong business acumen, ability to assume a broader perspective (cross-markets/ global)
• Affinity with sports fashion and lifestyle trends
• Ability to work effectively within a team environment and under pressure
• Intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office, Excel and Power BI.
• Fluent in English

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in business preferred, ideally with marketing and sales focus or equivalent professional experience
• Category Management/ Ranging/ Merchandising Experience or account marketing / sales: 5 years

At adidas we foster the athlete’s mindset through a set of behaviors that are at the core of our company culture:

• COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
• OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
• INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
• TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
• INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
• RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.