Objective
This role will be responsible to assist with merchandise strategy and execution across multiple markets. The individual is also responsible for overseeing product development, assortment planning, supplier relationships, and in-store or digital merchandise programs to drive brand engagement and incremental revenue — while unlocking opportunities for merchandise-led growth in local and global markets.
Position Responsibilities
Strategic Merchandise Development
- Lead end-to-end merchandise strategy for the region, aligned with brand positioning, seasonal campaigns, and customer insights.
- Partner with creative, marketing, and operations teams to ensure merchandise supports brand storytelling and business goals.
- Coordinate regional merchandise launches and ensure alignment across markets.
Product Development Cycles
- Oversee product development cycles — from concept to launch — for branded merchandise, packaging, and limited editions.
- Develop and maintain merchandise catalogues for product portfolios, inclusive of Product Development Go-to-market plans and visual merchandising displays.
- Analyze sales performance, market trends, and customer feedback to optimize assortments and identify new product opportunities.
- Conduct market and trend analysis to recommend new product ideas and optimize existing ranges.
External Supplier Management
- Manage supplier sourcing, contract negotiation, production timelines, and quality control in collaboration with procurement.
Internal Inventory Management
- Maintain a centralized system for product specs, timelines, and vendor communications.
- Review sales data and inventory reports to recommend adjustments to merchandise plans.
- Monitor inventory levels, logistics, and distribution to ensure availability and minimize excess.
- Ensure timely delivery of merchandise and resolve issues in production or quality with QA/QC team.
Qualification and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Industrial Design, or a related field.
- Minimum 3–7 years of experience in retail merchandising, ideally within the FMCG, QSR, or lifestyle consumer goods industries.
- Experience supporting merchandise strategy and execution across multiple markets or channels (e.g., in-store, digital).
- Understanding of product development cycles — from ideation to launch — including packaging, branding, and limited-edition releases.
- Familiar with assortment planning, merchandise cataloguing, and supporting go-to-market launches.
- Ability to analyze sales performance, market trends, and customer feedback to support assortment decisions and product improvements.
- Exposure to vendor sourcing, supplier communication, and supporting production timelines with procurement and QA/QC teams.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint; experience with inventory/merchandise management tools is a plus.
- Able to manage and maintain accurate data for product specs, inventory levels, and vendor timelines.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally with creative, marketing, operations, and supply chain teams.
- Strong communicator with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
- Bonus: Experience with visual merchandising, e-commerce product support, or regional merchandise coordination.
a Necessity, not a Luxury