MAIN PURPOSE
Retail Manager’s key responsibility is to define, propose and continuously animate the Japan retail network to reach sales and qualitative targets.
He/she is responsible for both the construction and execution of annual sales targets for Retail Boutiques, planning actions to support annual objectives, as well as the brand’s long-term development.
Specifically, it is the Retail Manager’s responsibility to pro-actively direct retail boutique development in accordance with brand guidelines and commercial objectives.
Key Responsibilities
1. Supervision of Retail Boutiques
- Formulate annual sales objectives and implement strategies to achieve them.
- Be a brand ambassador in Japan. Build strong relationship with VIC clients, landlords and department stores (incl. gaisho).
- Manage, in collaboration with other departments, action plan per boutique, fairs, events and other activities to achieve quantitative and qualitative objectives.
- Manage, in collaboration with other departments, the cost structure linked to retail actions: Opex, Capex and A&P, in order to achieve budgeted cost levels and net contribution objectives.
- Ensure that Montblanc retail network is optimized to reach expected brand visibility and market coverage.
- Collaborate to all negotiations with department stores on terms and conditions.
- Keep a strong awareness of the competitive environment, and competitors’ activities.
- Define boutique managers objectives and track results on a monthly and yearly basis.
- Ensure that all clienteling and CRM activities are well implemented and followed within retail network.
- In collaboration with training department, ensure that actions to improve customer journey are well implemented and monitor key indicator (i.e. NPS score, mystery shopping results)
2. Reporting
- Provide monthly reports to the Montblanc management committee on retail performance vs targets, together with qualitative and quantitative comments on performance, activities, plans and competitive environment.
- Provide annual budget presentation outlining state of the business, achievements for the year, and plans and objectives for the following year.
- Prepare monthly boutique managers meeting.
3. Management of staff
- Assess subordinates’ strengths and weaknesses and encourage their professional development in collaboration with training department.
- Formulate and implement competency development plans with future vision that incorporate the wishes of subordinates.
- Design fair division of duties, clarify targets, delegate responsibility, and develop consciousnesses to maximize demonstration of each person’s capabilities.
4. Required competencies
- 3-5 years retail manager experience in Retail industry. Luxury brand experience preferable.
- Deep understanding of retail business and fashion and department store industries.
- Business level of English preferable
- Ability to collect and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data
- Effective team player and networker
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and client orientated skills
- Strong sense of integrity
- Digital acumen
- Entrepreneurial Spirit and customer Focus
- Managing & Developing Teams