Brand Manager

The Opportunity

Own one of the key luggage brands end-to-end: from strategy and product to sales, margin, and market share across all channels.

You will be the commercial owner of the brand, driving its growth in partnership with buying, retail, marketing, finance, and supply chain teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brand Strategy & Planning

• Build and execute the annual brand plan aligned with group objectives.
• Track market, competitor, and consumer trends to spot risks and opportunities.
• Define brand positioning, target customers, and channel mix (retail, wholesale, e‑commerce).

2. Buying, Range & Supplier Management

• Lead negotiations with brand principals/suppliers on terms, pricing, and seasonal buys.
• Own the range plan and assortment to match demand, pricing strategy, and seasons.
• Monitor supplier performance, lead times, and quality; address issues quickly.

3. Sales & Commercial Performance

• Own the sales budget and P&L for the brand; deliver revenue, margin, and profit targets.
• Analyze sell-through, SKU/store performance, and take action on slow or excess stock.
• Set pricing, promotions, and discounting with retail and finance input.

4. Inventory & Stock Management

• Plan OTB, stock levels, and replenishment to balance availability and stock health.
• Coordinate with supply chain/warehouse for timely allocation and distribution.
• Run regular stock reviews and drive markdown and end-of-season clearance.

5. Marketing & Brand Activation

• Create and execute brand marketing plans and in-store activations to drive awareness and sales.
• Partner with marketing on digital, social, and VM content that reflects brand guidelines.
• Lead new product launches, collaborations, and seasonal rollouts.

6. Retail & Channel Enablement

• Work with retail to ensure store execution, VM, and product knowledge meet brand standards.
• Support store teams with training, insights, and promo guidance to lift sell-through.
• Identify and grow opportunities in wholesale, e‑commerce, and other channels.

7. Financial Management & Reporting

• Report regularly on sales, margin, stock, and profitability.
• Manage operating and marketing budgets within agreed limits.
• Forecast sales and inventory needs to support financial and demand planning.

8. People & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with buying, retail, marketing, finance, and supply chain.
• Coach and support any direct reports/brand executives.
• Drive recruitment and training needs with HR.
• Represent the brand in supplier meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

Key Metrics / KPIs:

• Market share in category
• Sales vs. budget and year-on-year growth
• Gross margin % and overall profitability
• Sell-through rate and stock turn
• Stock availability, aged/excess stock ratio
• Open-to-buy accuracy and supplier on‑time delivery
• Marketing ROI and new launch performance
• Store and brand standards compliance
• Channel growth (wholesale / e‑commerce)
• Budget adherence and forecast accuracy

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.