Merchandising Manager - On | Mizzen International, Seddiqi Holding

Merchandising Manager - On | Mizzen International, Seddiqi Holding

Seddiqi Holding is a family-owned and managed company with a unique, diversified portfolio of businesses and brands across numerous sectors. The business includes Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Seddiqi Properties, Swiss Watch Services, and Mizzen.

We are looking for a Merchandising Manager who will be responsible for defining the right assortment for our DTC channel (online and offline) as well as maximizing margins through inventory management & price alignment with brands, executing overall brand strategy, as well as partnering and maintaining key internal and external relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

General Management

• Executes overall brand inventory and product strategy & plans for On. Needs to be an expert in the specific categories and in the sportswear industry that On competes in.
• Reports and analyses business performance by category sales, sell-out, gross margin, and turnover and translates insights into key selling points or category opportunities.

Relationship Management

• Coordinates with brand principals, logistics, marketing, finance, IT, and retail for merchandise cycle.
• Manages the relationship and liaises with brand principals on matters relating to product launches, marketing campaigns, forthcoming offerings, and events in conjunction with retail, marketing, and e-commerce.

Brand Management

• Monitors and reports market trends and competitors' activities to identify opportunities.
• Visits stores regularly and understands key issues with brands - gathers information on sales results, competitive practices, product availability or replenishment challenges, or other relevant data which may impact business performance. Recommends remedial actions accordingly.
• Coordinates regular meetings with area managers, brand team, distribution team, and store managers to share insights arising from market dynamics and brands' performance.
• Works closely with the brand team to analyze and report sales-related data for products within his brand portfolio and provides insights into capitalizing on sales opportunities.
• Ensures proper assortment planning and budgeting for On.

Inventory Management

• Manages product portfolio based on demand trends to minimize unnecessary product proliferation.
• Monitors and forecasts inventory levels across the brands and locations and ensures proper allocation of merchandise based on sales trends and demand.
• Properly manages inventory, stock turnover, terminal stock, expired stock, and stock movement.
• Proposes and identifies a list of products for buybacks in cases of overstocking & submits to GM.
• Prepares and produces seasonal buy analysis to direct ranging and ranking decisions during the market i.e. sell-thru.
• Analyzes product category and identifies regional nuances and opportunities for growth.
• Defines discount strategies on markdowns, promotions, and sample sales at the style level.
• Develops and is responsible for managing the OTB budgets.
• Studies productivity of products and categories for effective buys and replenishments.
• Follows up on stock adjustments to ensure stock health in POS with focus on stock discrepancies, POSM, testers, and samples.
• Ensures all packaging requirements for brands are fulfilled for both retail and e-commerce.

Marketing

• Reviews marketing plans to ensure alignment with inventory.
• Strategizes and formulates actions to drive trade in underperforming product categories.

Stakeholders Management

• Oversees the distribution channels (Duty Free, department stores, wholesale accounts, or online platforms) to ensure timely orders, replenishment, and presence alongside the supply chain executive.
• Works closely with the corporate sales department to provide the right support to complete sales.
• Provides direction and supervision to the brand coordinator, and oversees constant skill development.
• Ensures effective communication between the team to ensure everyone understands their roles, responsibilities, and KPIs.
• Provides guidance, support, and ensures there is a positive and motivating environment, challenging team members to meet set targets.
• Conducts appraisal analysis to identify team members with potential and eligibility to develop further.
• Ensures underperforming members are notified and provides guidance and support on how they must improve, and if deemed necessary corrective action can be taken.
• Regularly, following a defined structured process, monitors staff's performance and provides feedback and support if necessary.

In order to be successful in this role, you should have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in International Business/Marketing/Mass Communication.
• 5-8 years of job-related experience.
• Familiarity with different forms of affiliated marketing, social networking, and digital marketing platforms.
• Extensive knowledge of fashion trends & styles and the local media scene.
• Knowledge in the marketing of fashion or sports segment.

If you are ready for your next challenge, apply now!