Merchandising Manager EMEA

Company Description

For over 164 years, Frette has crafted exquisite linens, blending Italian artistry with timeless luxury. Master artisans in Monza and Milan transform the finest fibers into creations of unmatched quality and elegance. Renowned for its signature finish, Frette has graced iconic destinations—from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Orient Express—while over 500 European royal families have slept beneath its sheets. Today, its legacy lives on in luxury hotels, private residences, yachts, and jets, remaining dedicated to outfitting the world’s most exceptional spaces.

Job Description

Frette is seeking a Merchandising Manager. The role will be responsible for creating & executing the merchandise plans and strategies that support the retail (full price & outlet) and e-commerce business divisions aligned with the Brand strategy. This role drives results through strong decision making and strategizing to ensure sales, inventory, and profitability goals are achieved or exceeded in the assigned commercial channels.

Primary Job Responsibilities

1. Develop and demonstrate foundational product knowledge through consistent Frette store visits across EMEA (Italy, France, UK) and visits to competitors.
2. Collaborate with the Global Director of Merchandising & Planning and the Product Development team to launch new products, from building the assortment strategy, sharing of product missed opportunities, as well as providing analysis and insights into the performance of prior or current collections.
3. Build and manage product assortment plan (core & seasonal) to align with Brand strategy and to achieve sales and inventory targets.
4. Make timely decisions independently based on analysis and business needs related to product buys, transfer or exit strategies, sometimes with incomplete information and under deadlines and pressure.
5. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of home product (i.e., bedding, bath, loungewear, decorative pieces, etc.) pricing dynamics, considering factors like brand prestige, materials, craftsmanship, and market demand.
6. Partner with the Corporate Marketing team to create product launch cadences, aligning on merchandise flow and product calendar, for both retail and ecommerce.
7. Partner with Visual Merchandising team to ensure product allocations and presentation are aligned with the Brand strategy and support the client experience in stores.
8. Collaborate proactively and reactively with the Commercial Sales teams (Retail & Ecommerce) to develop an action plan to achieve sales and inventory goals.
9. Conduct product training with sales team members upon new launches and rollouts.
10. Create and review data analysis to track performance & to identify trends and areas for improvement and create comprehensive action plans for marketing, sales, and other activities.
11. Conduct comprehensive market research and analysis of the home industry, including fabric & design trends, customer preferences, and distribution channels.
12. Recap and analyze actual sales results to identify risks and opportunities and recommend strategies to underperforming products.
13. Communicate sales results, forecasts, and action plans to managers and cross-functional teams.
14. Support B2C businesses in ad-hoc buying and planning analysis.
15. Participate in strategic projects with Management and cross-functional departments as needed (supply chain, commercial teams, marketing, CRM, product development, VM, etc.)
16. Train and manage one direct report (Merchandising & Planning Assistant).

Qualifications

Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum 7 years of merchandising/buying & planning experience within luxury brand.
• Strong merchant & analytical skills
• Comfortable with handling risk and uncertainty.
• Self-starter with ability to demonstrate logical analysis and problem-solving skills independently.
• Flexible with the ability to organize and prioritize workload to meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced functional knowledge of Microsoft Excel is required.
• Knowledge and understanding of retail math.
• Team Oriented.
• Accuracy in data reporting and entry.
• Strong and effective communication skills, verbal and written.
• Proficient in Italian and English languages required.

Additional Information

We offer a contract with ccnl Textile-industry at a level commensurate with the experience gained, daily tickets from 8€ and a competitive amount of Welfare. Weekly schedule: 40 hours full time from Monday to Friday with flexible opening and closing times (8.30 to 9.30 and 17.30 to 18.30). Frette offers the possibility to have an individual Smart Working arrangement for two days a week.