European Product Line Manager Apparel & Accessories

Position

The Product Line Manger is responsible for the coordination of the development and positioning of the European product-line for K-Swiss (Lifestyle, Athletic & Performance collections) apparel and accessories according to the needs of the European market. The apparel/accessories-line should be on trend with the latest fashion and still emphasize the unique positioning of K-Swiss by following the defined brand & product parameters. The Product Line Manager belongs to the European marketing department and reports to the European Business Unit Manager Apparel.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Strategy & Plan
  Coordinates the long term product development plans for the Lifestyle & Athletic apparel and accessories collections. Global design and development of these product-lines are steered from Europe. Global design and development of Performance products are steered by the USA. Ensure that European needs for the performance collection are communicated to the US. Prepare product-line strategy for Europe on all product-lines (apparel & accessories); develop line lists, price points, calendars, FOB targets, margins, and volume forecast.
• Product Briefings
  Creates Product Briefings to the European & USA apparel management for every season (while respecting the deadlines) in line with product line strategy. After this approval design and development team will be briefed. Product briefings are being developed in close co-operation with the total sales & apparel team.
• Sample Process
  Coordinates the total sample process from placing sample orders to delivery in coordination with logistics department. Ensures (checks & follow-ups) that prototypes, sales samples are ordered (USA-development), briefed (European-development) and send in time (from product sources).
• SMU process
  Coordinates between sales, development, logistics for all SMU products.
• Product line meetings & presentations (Europe and Global)
  Coordinates the European Product-line selection meetings. Shares and presents the European Product-line (whishes, needs & choices) at the Global line closing meetings. Ensures that all requests, briefings and decisions are followed up by the Global product development team in Europe, USA and/or Asia.
Ensures product presentation & product training within the European organization. Presents the complete product-line to the European sales team. Ensures the European organization is fully informed and aligned with the product-line. Presents inspiration, mood boards & trend summaries to ‘sell’ the complete product/marketing story.
• Marketing
  Works together with the marketing department for the development of apparel and accessories materials, i.e. catalogues, photo shoot samples.
• Analyses
  Analyzes business reports, sales figures of the key countries that will provided on a structural basis and use these for future product development.
• Trend insights
  Gains trend insights within European consumer/retail market and translate these trends into the Apparel & accessories product for K-Swiss. Attends key account meetings, trade shows, fashion exhibitions and market visits for presentations, relationship building, and trend/market research. Conducts field research in the key-countries to understand & anticipates the local needs, trends & wishes in cooperation with local sales- & marketing teams. Shares and presents these trends to the marketing team on a structural basis.

Requirements

• HBO/University degree in Textiles, Fashion, Economics, Marketing or other equivalent education/training (retail)
• Excellent feeling for trends and opportunities to enhance the brand
• Excellent knowledge of (sport) lifestyle market
• Excellent technical background related to fabrics, product development and quality requirements (in dept understanding of development & sourcing)
• Good communication and presentation skills (concepts, products)
• Strong personality (convincing, but diplomatic attitude)
• Persistence (not easily hurt)
• True entrepreneurial skills
• Team player (team leader)
• Basic computer skills (Power Point, Excel, Word, Illustrator)
• Willingness to travel
• Fluent in English

Our offer
We offer you a challenging assignment within a rapidly growing company, with lots of opportunities.

Interested?
Please send your updated English CV including all personal details and a written motivation letter to careers@kswiss.nl