Buyer & Merchandiser (Maternity Cover) MILANO

We are an American luxury lifestyle brand, founded in 2004. Anchored in the casual elegance of American sportswear, Tory's design philosophy is defined by effortless silhouettes, innovative materials, eclectic juxtapositions of colour, and the tension of past and present. The collections include ready-to-wear, handbags, footwear, accessories, jewellery, home and beauty. Empowering women is the company's guiding principle, expressed through Tory's collections and reflected in the company culture as well as the work of the Tory Burch Foundation.

We now have an opportunity based in our Milan Corporate Office for a Buyer and Merchandiser (Maternity Cover).

The role of a Tory Burch Buyer & Merchandiser is responsible for leading the increased sales and profitability of the department, through planning and delivering a balanced and cohesive range into stores and on site, that reflects the Brand vision, emerging trends and regional nuances. Partnering with all key stakeholders; Planning, Retail, VM, ECOM and Store Teams, to ensure key investments, best sellers and seasonal styles are promoted accordingly.

Responsibilities include:

Trading:

• Weekly and monthly Omni-channel trade reporting. Manage and lead the ownership of specific categories but also topline trade performance reporting for the DTC Business. Providing sophisticated strategic updates based on sales risks, opportunities and putting forward actions plans to successfully drive the business.
• Partner with Planning counterpart to ensure full optimization of product performance from demand, markdown, stock intake and returns, to ensure financial targets are achieved / exceeded vs Plan.
• Work with the Wholesale Buying Manager to partner effectively on managing the life cycle and end-end product management across the Region (Master Attribution / Lifecycle in/out of market conversations), enabling us to hit EOP and WOS targets. Create balanced and considered ranges with this in mind.
• Build an Omnichannel mindset by leveraging Webapp, Boss and Hero and an omnichannel stock approach. Ensure via BOSS we are accurately buying, planning and allocating against.
• Gain further knowledge, authority and evolve relationships by visiting the stores and key accounts more regularly. Know the business by heart.
• Work with Management to deliver Regional EOM Product feedback and strategy direction with a focus on owning the DTC Business input.

Buying

• Be a true Product Ambassador for the Region. Ensure delivery of clear Regional and Channel views across all product focuses and messages.
• Build a strong partnership with Corporate to enable the Region to deliver on product successes. Partner with Corporate on tailoring for the Region vs Global requirements.
• Collaborate with your Planning partner to build seasonal financial plans by highlighting areas of opportunity, category sell through etc, thereby shaping the assortment architecture of the Region.
• Constantly review the market and external competitors, through regular comp shops and store visits to ensure the collection that is delivered to the market is appropriate – reacting where necessary.
• Develop a closer relationship with CRM to gather more in-depth insights on our customer behaviors. Aim to include this as part of the hind sighting process to identify trends and opportunities arising, alongside setting the correct Product Strategies.
• Continue to reduce skus and plan sku counts at delivery month vs season level. As a Region ensure at point of the buys, we have more of a cohesive and aligned approach on both strategy and investments.
• Ensure proactive collaboration with WHSL counterpart to ensure we continue to focus the buys and product strategies, feedback and opportunities at a Region level and not just at channel level.
• Work closely with management to reevaluate regional pricing every season to elevate the brand (leather goods) while finding white space in the Ready to Wear Market and remain competitive on Footwear. Review SLGS strategy to ensure we can look to grow the potential of this category.

Merchandising:

• Closely work with Planning partners to review monthly Regional core (Core/Carryover) assortment and performance to ensure taking appropriate action where necessary to protect the NOOS objective.
• Improve GM% by focusing on buying smarter with a focus on higher margin rich product as well as reducing off-cadence airing.
• Partner effectively with Management and be the Regional lead in Markdown; drive the assortment and strategies to ensure we are able to hit and maximize the sales vs PLN.
• Work closely with Marketing to brief Product strategies ahead of the seasonal kick off and collaborate effectively to continually review planned launches are met or adapted to maximize visibility of the collection and driving commercial needs. Be the key point of contact for the marketing / digital teams for DTC.
• Partner effectively with the Ecommerce team to ensure on-site VM maximizes the sales opportunities and aligns with the buy direction, storytelling and Regional strategy.
• Create a close partnership with our VM teams enable us to review the VMG with a Regional mind set and also with a view of reacting more to trade and delivery changes.

Team:

• Develops the junior members of the team using effective delegation, raising their level of competency & guiding them in a best practice approach, as well as investing time teaching and training them to maximize departmental efficiencies and output.
• Consistently reviewing ‘ways of working’ to improve department efficiencies and output along with the support of junior team members.
• Raises the profile of the Buying & Merchandising team within the business, representing the department in meetings and always presenting the department in a positive and professional manner.
• Ensure the team is working on effective partnership across Regional BMP function.

Candidate Requirements:

• Experience of 6+ years in Buying;
• Previous experience in luxury / high end corporate fashion retail in buying/merchandising role.; Has a strong fashion eye and passion for product;
• Strong numerical and analytical skills;
• Must have advanced Excel skills;
• Experience in working in multiple currencies is a plus;
• Strong and effective presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively;
• Shows continual awareness of the Regional customer profile and reflects this in all activities and decisions;
• A balance of creativity and commercial acumen;
• Demonstrates initiative, self-motivation and ownership. Consistently showing a reliable, mature and confident attitude;
• A team player who is focused on delivering results.