The Wholesale Field Brand Manager will be focused on providing product knowledge to our retail partner sales staff, as well as train and communicate with all WGACA sales specialist. This role will also maintain all displays in line with company standards and providing an excellent in-store experience across our retail partner network.
The Wholesale Field Brand Manager is responsible for maintaining the brand image in the store environment and using their regional experience to develop market strategies that tell the brand story consistently. They will use that knowledge to assess individual market needs, ultimately supporting the global business strategy by expanding our account base and maintaining the existing one.
This position will be working on everything from store sales development, running trunk shows, promoting and selling the WGACA brand. Being well versed in all aspects of the fashion industry is a must; you’re required to be in touch with market trends as well as popular styles in a specific location, culture, age, economic group or trend. The goal is to ensure effective, consistent, and professional store visits that enhance relationships, drive sales, and maintain or expand WGACA’s brand presence.
Responsibilities
Client Relationship Management:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with managers, specialists and associates
- Regular visits to top doors or underperforming doors to understand their needs and provide solutions. These doors should represent over 60% of the business
- Ensure WGACA is top of mind within all doors
Sales and Business Development:
- Drive sales in assigned territory to achieve seasonal sales targets
- Implement actionable items that translate to sellout performance, such as promotional strategies, in-store events, and visual merchandising support
- Coordinate with account manager on store incentives and contests
Market Analysis:
- Monitor market trends and competitor activities within the territory
- Provide feedback and insights to HQ Team to inform strategic decisions
Product Knowledge (PK) Training:
- Continuously upskill themselves in product knowledge (PK) to effectively educate store staff teams.
- Conduct PK training sessions during visits for staff to ensure staff understand the key selling points and can effectively communicate them to customers.
- Plan and conduct monthly multi-door regional seminars with more in-depth brand, product and visual training.
- Address best-selling product, poor sellers and upcoming delivery.
- Each door should be something tangible to reference. Can be digital such as the upcoming assortment for pre-selling or brand guide.
Reporting and Administration:
- Maintain accurate reporting of sales performance and store interactions
- Update reports regularly on sales performance and market conditions
- There should be at least three actionable items to be addressed and followed up on after visit relating to sellout performance (product, promotional strategies, in-store events, and visual merchandising support, etc.)
- Current shared file will have added columns for on-order value for each store and four-week subsequent performance after visit with actionable items included
- Establish four-week follow-up cadence with stores to conduct a follow-up communication
Team Collaboration:
- Work closely with the Sales Manager, Director and other team members to
- align on goals and strategies.
- Share feedback or insights that could inform broader strategy.
- Participate in weekly sales meeting team when possible and contribute to the overall success of the Wholesale department.
Qualifications
- Knowledge of the luxury accessories market
- Proven work experience as a visual merchandiser or visual manager
- Demonstrable visual design skills with a strong retail merchandising portfolio
- Solid experience in field visual merchandising, including window displays, signs, interior displays and space utilization
- Proven success in a comparable VM leadership role, responsible for multiple geographies
- Strong creative skills and real passion for product.
- Assertive but diplomatic
- Strong communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills including influential leadership
- Action oriented and independent with strong organizational skills
- Effective at overcoming ambiguity with solid go-forward strategies
- Flexibility to prioritize and effectively manage a broad variety of initiatives
- Strong analytical skills and financial acumen, proficient in Excel is a must
- Cultural awareness and ability to accommodate different time zones
- Willingness to travel regularly to meet the needs of the business
Travel Requirements:
- 80% Monthly Travel throughout your designated region
- Travel at least three weeks out of the month four consecutive days in a row, either Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday
- Attend Saturday events when necessary
