Brand Manager

Apparel Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 279,000 - 502,000; Full time

Job summary

Apparel Group is seeking a dynamic Brand Lead to drive growth and profitability for its regional brand stores in Dubai. You will shape brand positioning, launch strategies, and in-season merchandising while coordinating with Marketing, Operations and Buying teams.

The role requires leadership in team recruitment and training, budget control, and cross-territory stock management to maximize sell-through and market presence.

Responsibilities

• Maximize sales and profitability of brand stores in line with company targets.
• Develop the brand launch strategy in consultation with the Brand General Manager.
• Control costs within budgetary guidelines for the brand stores.
• Maximize productivity in stores through effective deployment of resources to ensure sell-through as per brand plans.
• Review feedback from territories on brand acceptance and customer expectations.
• Ensure adherence to financial plan in all key areas: sales, markdowns, margin, inventory.
• Create brand positioning with Marketing team and Brand General Manager.
• Involve in recruitment and training of team members.
• Plan merchandising, pricing, promotion and assortment for timely stock availability.
• Determine buying requirements and formulate buying plan and budget.
• Coordinate product selection with buying and research inputs.
• Ensure effective in-season management across territories: stock balancing and markdowns.
• Create brand awareness through initiatives like Club Apparel.
• Coordinate retail operations feedback with brand operations.
• Develop and implement Visual Merchandising strategy at stores.
• Conduct market intelligence on trends and competition; identify brand customizations.
• Research new sites for brand outlets and coordinate with Ops/GM on openings.
• Study latest trends in products, styles and fits to inform assortment.
• Evaluate site trade area and approvals; support new store openings and re-fits.

Job description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

• The position is responsible for overall brand development and implementation for maximized sales and profit.
• Strategize for brand penetration and positioning within the region to create brand image in the market.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Growth and Profitability

• Maximize sales and profitability of brand stores in line with Company targets.
• Develop the brand launch strategy in consultation with the Brand General Manager.
• Control costs within budgetary guidelines for the brand stores.
• Maximize productivity in stores through effective deployment of resources at brand stores to ensure complete sell through as per brand product, style and assortment plans.
• Review feedback from territories on Brand acceptance and customer expectations.
• Ensure adherence to financial plan in all key areas
• sales, markdowns, margin and average inventory.
• Create the brand positioning in consultation with the Marketing team and Brand Principal / Brand General Manager.
• Involve in recruitment and training of team members. Brand Merchandise Planning and Product Selection
• Study merchandise requirements for assigned brand by setting sourcing triggers based on actual sales, sales forecasts, company order parameters, inventory checks, forth coming events, replenishment needs.
• Design the merchandise plan (pricing, promotion, assortment etc.) with the team for timely availability of stocks at the stores.
• Determine buying requirements and formulate buying plan and budget.
• Conduct product selection in coordination with the buying requirements and the product research received.
• Ensure effective in-season management across territories (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis, stock vs. sales performance). Brand Image
• Create brand awareness “Club Apparel”.
• Coordinate with Retail Operations to collate the feedback on retail and brand operations.
• Develop Strategy for Visual Merchandising at Stores and ensure implementation of the same. Market and Competition Research
• Acquire market intelligence through various sources and analyze trends that may impact business.
• Research the brand acceptance within the region or any new territory and identify any inputs on brand customizations required.
• Map competition prices / products and provide qualitative inputs to business.
• Research and look at new sites for brand outlets and discuss the same with the Operations Manager and General Manager.
• Research on the latest trends in products, brands, styles, designs, fits etc. Projects & Administration
• Evaluate the selected site on parameters like trade area, customer base, additional merchandising considerations and seek internal approvals.
• Co-ordinate for new store openings and re-fits with the operations and projects team.
• Ensure brand outlet locations are in line with the brand strategy and positioning.
• Ensure adherence to the store opening plan.