Founded in 1906 as a manufacturer of writing instruments, MONTBLANC today creates exclusive products including watches, jewelry, writing instruments and leather goods which reflect our high demands with respect to culture, quality, design, tradition and craftsmanship. With more than 25 subsidiaries and 600 boutiques MONTBLANC is present all over the world.
MAIN PURPOSE
Retail Manager’s key responsibility is to define, propose and continuously animate the Japan retail network to reach sales and qualitative targets.
He/she is responsible for both the construction and execution of annual sales targets for Retail Boutiques, planning actions to support annual objectives, as well as the brand’s long-term development.
Specifically, it is the Retail Manager’s responsibility to pro-actively direct retail boutique development in accordance with brand guidelines and commercial objectives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Supervision of Retail Boutiques
- Formulate annual sales objectives and implement strategies to achieve them.
- Be a brand ambassador in Japan. Build strong relationship with VIC clients, landlords and department stores (incl. gaisho).
- Manage, in collaboration with other departments, action plan per boutique, fairs, events and other activities to achieve quantitative and qualitative objectives.
- Manage, in collaboration with other departments, the cost structure linked to retail actions: Opex, Capex and A&P, in order to achieve budgeted cost levels and net contribution objectives.
- Ensure that Montblanc retail network is optimized to reach expected brand visibility and market coverage.
- Collaborate to all negotiations with department stores on terms and conditions.
- Keep a strong awareness of the competitive environment, and competitors’ activities.
- Define boutique managers objectives and track results on a monthly and yearly basis.
- Ensure that all clienteling and CRM activities are well implemented and followed within retail network.
- In collaboration with training department, ensure that actions to improve customer journey are well implemented and monitor key indicator (i.e. NPS score, mystery shopping results)
2. Reporting
- Provide monthly reports to the Montblanc management committee on retail performance vs targets, together with qualitative and quantitative comments on performance, activities, plans and competitive environment.
- Provide annual budget presentation outlining state of the business, achievements for the year, and plans and objectives for the following year.
- Prepare monthly boutique managers meeting.
3. Management of staff
- Assess subordinates’ strengths and weaknesses and encourage their professional development in collaboration with training department.
- Formulate and implement competency development plans with future vision that incorporate the wishes of subordinates.
- Design fair division of duties, clarify targets, delegate responsibility, and develop consciousnesses to maximize demonstration of each person’s capabilities.
4. Required competencies
- 3-5 years retail manager experience in Retail industry. Luxury brand experience preferable.
- Deep understanding of retail business and fashion and department store industries.
- Business level of English preferable
- Ability to collect and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data
- Effective team player and networker
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and client orientated skills
- Strong sense of integrity
- Digital acumen
- Entrepreneurial Spirit and customer Focus
- Managing & Developing Teams