SAINT LAURENT General Merchandising Manager, SEAO

Saint Laurent - Regular
Singapore - Singapore

ABOUT SAINT LAURENT Founded in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture house to introduce the concept of luxury prêt-à-porter in a 1966 collection called ‘Rive Gauche’, synonymous with youth and freedom. This shift represented a first critical step in the modernization of fashion and revolutionized the socio-cultural landscape. In 1999, the luxury goods division of the Kering Group acquired Yves Saint Laurent and, under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello since April 2016, continues to position the house at the summit of the luxury universe. Today, Saint Laurent collections include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, small leather goods, jewelry, scarves, ties and eyewear.

ROLE

This position is based in the Saint Laurent Singapore office, directly reporting to the General Manager of Southeast Asia and Oceania. The GMM is responsible for the creation and execution of the merchandise strategies, goals, and objectives for all countries in the region (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia & New Zealand) and for leading the merchandising function, partnering with General Manager and collaborating with HQ and local business partners to drive the brand’s strategy across the network.

MISSION

Develop an overarching merchandising strategy for all countries in the region and drive merchandise strategies behind business plans
Drive an overall vision of the product lifecycle by leading the team to react to sales trends, market impacts, and inventory
Maximize business opportunities and monitor sell-through situations to initiate appropriate strategies and tactics to liquidate stock and increase sales
Provide strategic direction and guidance to the merchandising teams to plan and execute buying activities across the region to achieve targeted sales projections and sell-through
Work closely with the Retail Managers to formulate and implement all the seasonal buying strategies and Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets to achieve the business objectives for the markets
Prepare and present budget, forecast, and monthly business reviews with headquarters
Oversee merchandise mix and assortment planning following respective merchandising strategies set with senior management for different Direct Operating Stores (DOS)
Liaise closely with Headquarter to provide feedback from markets and make recommendations on product style, mix, and purchase
Work with Headquarter on pricing policy and global positioning based on competitor analyses to increase brand profitability
Oversee inventory, delivery, and reordering situations to ensure appropriate levels of stock are maintained across all categories
Regularly report to the General Manager of Southeast Asia and Oceania, delivering analysis and feedback on sales performance, merchandise mix, inventory situations, and other key business issues, etc.
Partner with Retail, Communications, and Visual Merchandising teams on promotional and visual presentation programs
Supervise and review team performance, KPIs setting, and support ongoing career development

PROFILE

Degree holder in the merchandising/buying or related discipline
10+ years of solid experience in Merchandising/Buying for RTW, bags, shoes, and other accessories (Men & Women) for international fashion brands
Dynamic, passion for the fashion industry and knowledge of the luxury market/competitors
Commercial awareness and strong business acumen
Strong analytical and numerical skills
Strong verbal and written communication skills and excellent organizational skills

Saint Laurent is committed to building a diverse workforce. We believe diversity in all its forms – gender, age, nationality, culture, religious beliefs and sexual orientation – enriches the workplace. It opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to adapt to a changing world. As an Equal Opportunity Employer we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background.