What are the responsibilities and job description for the Americas - Merchandise Manager position at Clarks?
Merchandise Manager
The Merchandise Manager will drive product alignment and execution for the Clark Retail stores responsible for driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity through strategic assortment planning and lifecycle execution across men’s and women’s footwear. This role combines analytical rigor with strong product instincts, obsessing on consumer needs to ensure the right styles, brand stories, sizes, and price points are available at the right time and place.
What You'll Do:
This document describes the general nature and level of work only. It is not designed to cover an exhaustive list of all skills, activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Other activities, duties, and responsibilities may be added at any time. This description may be changed at the company's discretion at any time, with or without notice.
About Clarks
Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brother James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and Launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.This season, we're proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all-bringing to life Clarks' new global campaign, for the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, we're ready to lead the way. After all, we're the originators, not imitators. It's who we are, who we've always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, we're doing things differently today.As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment', complying with local legislative requirements. Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.
Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.
The Merchandise Manager will drive product alignment and execution for the Clark Retail stores responsible for driving sales, margin, and inventory productivity through strategic assortment planning and lifecycle execution across men’s and women’s footwear. This role combines analytical rigor with strong product instincts, obsessing on consumer needs to ensure the right styles, brand stories, sizes, and price points are available at the right time and place.
What You'll Do:
- Merchandise Manager will work closely with Director of Merchandising coordinating w/ merch planning to maximize revenues commercial performance, developing proper product offering for Full Price and Outlet stores.
- Responsible style selection, work with planning with guidance on inventory need, & pricing. Analyse performance and adjusting strategies and assortments.
- Build balanced assortments across categories (athletic, casual, dress, boots, sandals, comfort, performance) and price tiers.
- Set initial pricing architecture aligned with margin targets and competitive landscape
- Collaborate with marketing team to align trading plans and product with promotional strategies.
- Track commercial performance partnering with Merch planning to review style count & sku productivity targets, to promptly identify mismatches between current trend and budget/plan and other opportunities for optimization.
- Optimize size curves by gender and category to maximize sell through and minimize markdowns.
- Collaborate with Planning, Allocation, Visual, Marketing, and Store Operations to ensure flawless execution for stores on product assortment.
- Attend planner OTB meetings to better understand trending categories & inventory risks.
- Review and analyze full price and promotional selling to capitalize on commercial and financial opportunities.
- Driving internal review process and develop best practices, internal process as well as external communication flows with the broader organization.
- Create Merchandising Line Plans for store assortments.
- Present the merchandise strategy, supporting insights, assortment guidance and seasonal trading plans.
- Maintain an understanding of local market and competitive dynamics, target consumer needs, and product trends.
- Be a consumerist: obsess the consumer and understand quickly new competitive trends
- Lead with the art and science of merchandising.
- Bachelor’s Degree and at least 3-5 years of related experience
- Experience in the development and implementation of product strategy
- Buying, Merchandising, Planning or Product Management experience at a manager level in the Footwear business.
- Lead with the art and science of merchandising
- Understanding of the footwear market - competitors, trends, distribution
- Knowledge of different business operating models – Retail, Franchise, Factory, eCom, Product, Finance, Supply Chain
- Ability to lead and influence others.
- Have product acumen and footwear experience.
- Negotiation skills to maximize the matrix resource of Clarks
- Organizational and Communication skills
- Comprehensive understanding of overall business operations
This document describes the general nature and level of work only. It is not designed to cover an exhaustive list of all skills, activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Other activities, duties, and responsibilities may be added at any time. This description may be changed at the company's discretion at any time, with or without notice.
About Clarks
Clarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brother James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off cuts. At the time it was ground-breaking: a combination of invention and craftsmanship that has remained at the heart of what the brand does now. In the Clarks archive of more than 22,000 pairs that have sparked revolutions and defined generations. From the original Clarks Desert Boot, first designed by Nathan Clark and Launched in 1950, to the iconic Wallabee, each design has an instantly recognizable signature that makes it unmistakably Clarks.This season, we're proud to introduce the Clarks Collective: five incredible activists championing authentic social change. From mental health awareness and LGBTQ rights to greater racial equality, these trailblazers are committed to creating a brighter future for us all-bringing to life Clarks' new global campaign, for the World Ahead. Through spotlighting their stories and supporting their chosen charities and initiatives, we're ready to lead the way. After all, we're the originators, not imitators. It's who we are, who we've always been. And to change the world of tomorrow, we're doing things differently today.As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organization. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, disability, marital status, color, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment', complying with local legislative requirements. Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.
Actual compensation within a pay range will be based on factors including but not limited to a candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, performance, Clarks’ business needs, internal equity and any statutory obligations. The pay range for this role may be modified by Clarks at any time in the future.