Product Manager, Sports Channel

Job description

Widen Your Horizons. Join the Next Chapter of Your Career At EssilorLuxottica, we are committed to empowering our people to grow and succeed. This is your opportunity to take your career to the next level, embrace new challenges, and continue making a difference. We work for a brighter future, thinking today about the world of tomorrow. ​ Don’t miss the chance to shape your #FutureInSight with us! Responsibilities 1. Wholesale Assortment & Buy Planning · Develop seasonal apparel assortment plans specifically for China’s wholesale channel, including product segmentation by customer tier (e.g., premium sports retailers, fashion multi-brand stores, outdoor specialty shops). · Create buy guides, order form templates, and minimum order quantities (MOQs) for wholesale customers. · Collaborate with global / regional merchandising teams to adapt global assortments for China wholesale – considering local sizing, color preferences, seasonal differences, and price architecture. · Lead pre-order and sell-in sessions with wholesale partners, providing product knowledge and commercial recommendations. 2. Wholesale Inventory & Order Management · Manage wholesale open-to-buy (OTB), order consolidation, and allocation to different wholesale accounts. · Coordinate with supply chain and logistics to ensure timely delivery of wholesale orders. · Monitor wholesale inventory levels (sell-in vs. sell-out), identify slow-moving SKUs, and recommend markdown support or stock rebalancing among accounts. · Proactively manage stock risks and end-of-season clearance for wholesale channel. 3. Sales Analysis & Channel Performance · Conduct weekly / monthly wholesale sell-in and sell-out analysis by customer, region, and product category. · Track key performance metrics: order uptake rate, sell-through rate, stock turn, gross margin return on investment (GMROI), and account profitability. · Provide actionable trading recommendations to wholesale sales team and external customers – e.g., reorders, markdowns, assortment adjustments. · Prepare post-seasonal reviews with wholesale partners and incorporate feedback into future collections. 4. Wholesale Customer & Market Support · Act as merchandising point of contact for key wholesale accounts, supporting their buying decisions, product training, and in-store merchandising needs. · Conduct regular market visits to wholesale points of sale (flagship retailers, multi-brand stores) to gather on-ground insights and competitor intelligence. · Work with the wholesale sales team to develop channel-specific promotions, exclusive styles (if applicable), and bundled offers. 5. Cross-functional Collaboration · Partner with global / regional merchandising, product, and planning teams to influence future product development based on China wholesale market feedback. · Align with finance on wholesale pricing, discount structures, and customer trade terms. · Coordinate with marketing to ensure wholesale channel receives appropriate product assets, VM guidelines, and launch support. 6. Process & System Management · Manage wholesale order systems (e.g., SAP, retail ERP, B2B platforms) to ensure data accuracy. · Maintain seasonal wholesale catalogs, line sheets, and order trackers. · Support the implementation of digital B2B showroom / ordering tools for wholesale customers. Requirements: · Education: Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Supply Chain, or related field. MBA is a plus. · Experience: Minimum 6–8 years of merchandising experience in apparel / sportswear / fashion, with at least 2–3 years focused on wholesale or B2B channels. Experience with an international sports or lifestyle brand in China is essential. · Channel Knowledge: Deep understanding of China’s wholesale landscape – sports retailers, outdoor chains, multi-brand fashion stores, and key account buying processes. · Analytical Skills: Advanced Excel and data analysis skills; experience with ERP/BI tools (SAP, Power BI, retail planning software). · Languages: Fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese (written and spoken). · Travel: Willingness to travel frequently within China for customer meetings, market visits, and trade shows. · Strong commercial mindset with P&L understanding for wholesale channel · Ability to balance brand DNA (Oakley’s performance & lifestyle positioning) with customer needs and sell-in targets · Excellent negotiation, influencing, and relationship-building skills · Highly organized, able to manage multiple wholesale accounts and seasons simultaneously · Data-driven decision-making with a proactive problem-solving attitude Responsibilities: Buying: - Prepare reports to monitor business on a regular basis, interpreting and recommending opportunities across the defined area of responsibility - Building up Assortment for responsible Category and channel related - in-season products management incl. newness launch, assortment maintenance, promotion control, inventory liquidation to achieve company sales, inventory and profit goals - Conduct competitor’s research and prepare collection review with design studio Distribution and supply chain management: - Closely work with production and logistic team on all the new projects including allocation, distribution and delivery, etc. - Closely monitoring stock level of all the stores and define the proper action plan. - Coordinate and arrange the stock return to warehouse after MD and season end. - Stock management and family sales planning. Inventory control: - Serve as the inventory control expert on all categories and monitor the lifecycle of merchandise and conduct the stock assessment to identify the risks and demand per the sales trend and the sales forecast in regular basis. - Closely monitor the stock and sales of carryover and propose timely reorder to maintain optimal and commercially efficient stock level. - Assist in developing and upgrading allocations tools and methodology separated by seasonal and carryover Reporting and analysis: - Review weekly business at detail levels of quantities and value level to identify risks and opportunities - Produce standard weekly/monthly merchandise management reports and fulfil ad hoc information requests as needed - Analyse and understand current performance, revising in-season sales/profit plans Sales forecast: - Prepare pre-season Open-To-Buy Plans to be used in the development of merchandise strategies for the season and to support buying needs. - Work with finance and retail team on the rolling forecast and budget in each phase of planning timeline New Sales Channel Management: - New Channel Sales Forecast and report on weekly/monthly/quarterly/yearly basis - Manage customer/geography/channel development and the implementation of sales plan for new channel - Be responsible for overall sales performance across the channel and evaluate new sales possibilities - Channel management: Partner store/ Shop in shop/ Others Requirements: - Bachelor degree or above in a relevant field - Solid merchandising or product management background, ideally from sports or outdoor brands - Strong commercial sense and solid understanding of AFA categories - Good analytical capability and confidence in working with sales, inventory, and forecast data - Hands-on experience in inventory control, merchandise planning, and in-season business management - Strong cross-functional coordination and project management skills - Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail and execution discipline - Fluent English communication skills Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment​ We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and provide equal opportunities to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes us unique.