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Retail General Merchandise Manager at Converse

Location: North Andover, MA, US

On the Web: www.converse.com

Description

Description
Effectively develop and lead our merchandising strategy and go to market process for Converse owned Outlet and Specialty retail stores and select licensed partners. Provide leadership for Retail with Product Development teams. Manage a team of Merchandise, Planning and Allocation, Visual and Marketing with influence on Converse Global Retail GTM.
As a member of the Retail Leadership team, this person will play a key role in strategic development of the Retail business across channels and regions.

Buying/Merchandising

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Directs Retail Merchandising plans against Converse Retail Strategy.
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Responsible for influencing Digital and Regional plans against Global Initiatives and budgets.
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Ownership of Retail Go to Market Plans with accountability of seasonal buys ups and plans against budget.
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Ensures alignment of buys with marketing direction & seasonal initiatives.
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Represents needs of retail business in product development/strategy with product teams.
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Help develop and own the Retail Vertical product development calendar and process for all categories.
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Partner with product categories to ensure execution of strategies at retail level and alignment on direction of brand.
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Oversee Retail Marketing to ensure alignment with seasonal strategies, commercial needs and brand direction.
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Ownership of retail exclusive products & stories.
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Elevate the Retail team around driving business on a weekly business and adjusting buys/strategies accordingly.
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Oversees our owned Retail buying team to ensure that inventory investments are in line with merchandise strategies and driving sales per sq/ft.

Visual Merchandising:

* Responsible for Visual execution through retail dedicated VM Manager working with brand teams as well as integration of presentation for licensed partners.
* Ensure consistency of presentation, strategies/buys and overall "visual signature".
* Drives the visual presentation of our product offer to create a signature look and experience for the customer, as well as highlight seasonal merchandise and brand strategies in store.
* Ensure consistent energy and freshness in the store in line with our customer's expectations.

Planning/Allocation

* Oversee Planning and Allocation teams for owned stores with responsibility for inventory control and allocation targets.
* Drives plans that support consumer focused strategies and trends and oversees the development of these plans by the planning team.
* Influence Strategic Planning process and manage Budget/Forecasting process.
* Lead the process to plan all GMM financial components for all opening, closing, remodels, identifying capacity and financial impacts.
* Drive, review, and adjust current assortment with Allocation and Business Planner.
* Reviews and ensures consistency of forecasts created by the Allocations team that support business objectives.
* Oversees inventory at total level as well as store capacities and ensures appropriate planning to financial targets through Allocation team.
* Lead the development of the Retail Open to Buy process and inventory management.

Marketing

* Ensure marketing Manager partner with Retail leadership team to proactively develop marketing plans by season including the development of budget parameters, project creative briefs and work back schedules.
* Develop and execute approved retailer retail marketing programs, including POS, in-store promotions and local market communication in partnership with brand marketing.
* Lead the development of all seasonal marketing presentations for global retail and licensed partners. Include Regional specific needs into Retail Marketing plan.
* Partner with Digital Commerce team to drive powerful and integrated Customer Retention programs.
* Collaborate with Brand Development team to develop cross channel programs behind all major demand creation initiatives.

Qualifications
4-year Degree (e.g. Bachelor's), subject area:

Minimum 10 years retail experience. Minimum 8-10 years vertical retail experience with strong apparel experience. Experience overseeing either planning or visual or marketing departments. Strongly suggested to have women's apparel experience and some international experience. Extensive experience leading the delivery of a high level of customer service in a Brand Retailer. Ability to think at a strategic level, but also able to dig into details and drive business and process with the team.

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