Wholesale Manager/Director

Cou Cou Intimates; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative lingerie brand in London seeks an experienced Wholesale Manager to lead their wholesale expansion. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in apparel wholesale, strong analytical skills, and an extensive network of relationships with retailers. The role requires strategic thinking with P&L responsibilities and a passion for empowering women through comfortable intimates. Join a creative team making an impact in the industry.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in apparel wholesale.
• Extensive network of key buyers and decision-makers.
• Proven track record of growing wholesale revenue.
• Strong understanding of continuity product strategies.
• Ability to mentor small teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and shape the wholesale channel strategy.
• Drive growth with existing wholesale partners.
• Establish new key relationships globally.
• Lead all wholesale forecasting and budgeting.
• Mentor a small team for accurate order fulfillment.

Skills

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Commercial acumen

Analytical skills

Team leadership

Job description

Overview

Cou Cou is a female founded, purpose-driven, impact brand, redefining intimate-essentials for a new generation of women by bridging the gap between our lingerie and underwear drawer. Our mission is to reclaim the narrative of our intimates, celebrate our embodied female experience, everyday & reduce the environmental impact of our most disposed-of garments.

Role Overview

We are seeking an exceptional Wholesale Manager or Director to join our team and drive the next phase of our wholesale expansion. This role will hold full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel encompassing strategy, sales, operational excellence, and team leadership. The Wholesale Manager/Director will be responsible not only for driving growth with existing accounts but also for forging strong new partnerships with both major players and independent retailers. With full P&L responsibility, this person will balance commercial growth with disciplined account management to ensure healthy margins and premium brand positioning.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Channel Ownership

• Full ownership of Cou Cou’s wholesale channel, shaping the short- and long-term strategy.

• Full P&L responsibility for wholesale, ensuring profitable growth.

• Build the right balance of majors (for volume) and indie doors (for discovery and touch point for Cou Cou girls).

Account Development & Growth

• Drive growth with existing wholesale partners, ensuring strong, long-term relationships.

• Establish new relationships with key doors globally, leveraging an extensive existing network.

• Implement effective seasonal sell-in strategies to achieve ambitious sales targets.

Global & Regional Market Expertise

• Knowledge of regional market dynamics (e.g., EU, US, Middle East, APAC)

• Experience with international compliance and regulation

• Ability to manage currency, tax, and duty implications across markets.

• Market entry strategy: assessing and prioritising new regions.

• Not just sell-through analysis but also market-level reporting

Market & Product Expertise

• Maintain an in-depth understanding of the apparel wholesale market, retail landscape, and buying cycles.

• Ensure Cou Cou’s wholesale assortment is aligned with market needs while protecting brand positioning.

• Demonstrate expertise in working with continuity products to optimize re-orders and drive consistent growth.

Sales Analysis & Forecasting

• Own all wholesale forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.

• Monitor and analyse sell-through data to ensure targets are met and overstock/markdowns are avoided.

• Feed insights from sell-through back to product, merchandising, and DTC teams.

Cross-Functional Impact

• Partner closely with the DTC team to ensure Cou Cou is available to try on in all key and growing regions.

• Work with marketing to create impactful wholesale activations that drive discovery, sell-through and enhance brand reputation.

• Organize and execute all seasonal showrooms, from strategy, taking orders, to final delivery.

Operations & Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a small team, including an allocator and operations assistant, ensuring accurate and timely order fulfillment.

• Work closely with operations and logistics to guarantee seamless delivery to accounts worldwide.

• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and growth within the wholesale function.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5+ years experience in apparel wholesale

• Extensive network of key buyers and decision-makers across major retailers and influential boutiques.

• Proven track record of growing wholesale revenue while protecting premium brand positioning.

• Strong understanding of continuity product strategies and their role in consistent growth.

• Commercially astute with extensive experience in P&L ownership, forecasting, and budgeting.

• Highly analytical mindset with proven ability to monitor sell-through and optimize results.

• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Experience leading and developing small teams.

• Hustle, agility, and resilience to thrive in a high-energy, entrepreneurial environment.

Why Join Us

At Cou Cou Intimates, we are committed to fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous growth. As an integral member of our team, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact and shape the future of our brand. Join us in redefining the intimates industry and empowering women to feel confident & comfortable. Everyday.

Application Process

If you are a visionary leader with a passion for wholesale, please apply via [e-mail] with subject: application // Wholesale Manager