Merchandising Manager

**About us**

Love, Bonito is a digital-first company on a mission to empower the everyday Asian woman and inspire self-confidence. We are Southeast Asia’s leading womenswear brand, headquartered in Singapore, with an omnichannel presence across Hong Kong SAR China, Indonesia, Malaysia and a retail franchise in Cambodia. In addition, we have also expanded into international markets namely the Philippines and the United States of America.

Founded in 2010, we are proudly female-founded with more than 65% female representation in leadership roles (#girlpower). We raised a US$50M Series C round in 2021 and know that we’re on the cusp of something great, where we’re working towards becoming the most thoughtful brand globally, for the Asian female consumer, especially when it comes to our products, community and experiences.

There’s a lot more work to be done with all of our exciting plans. So we’re looking to team up with people who are wildly passionate about making an impact and be part of a dynamic team, in a workplace with no corporate BS (yes, you read that right).

**The role**

You will be responsible for continuously delighting and exciting the LB community through our thoughtful assortment and superb merchandising strategy and implementation. Reporting directly to our Senior Buying & Merchandising Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Love, Bonito through our exhilarating scale-up season.

**Main responsibilities**
- Drive and implement merchandising strategies that align with LB identity and DNA, target market, seasonal trends and sales forecasts
- Research and analyse market trends, competitor activities, and consumer preferences to identify opportunities and risks in the market
- Partner with Buying to place initial buys and lead on allocations across country channels
- Monitor inventory levels and sales performance to make informed decisions about product assortments, reorder quantities, and markdown strategies
- Analyse sales performance to identify opportunities and make timely adjustments; detailed reporting and sharing with country and channel regional teams
- Collaborate with marketing, e-commerce, visual merchandisers and retail area managers to ensure that products are displayed effectively to drive sales and enhance the shopping experience
- Partner with marketing on product launches, promotions, and campaigns to maximise visibility and generate excitement around new arrivals and key fashion trends
- Monitor inventory levels, turnover rates, and sell-through percentages to optimise stock levels and minimise excess inventory and markdowns
- Implement inventory control measures, such as stock replenishment, allocation and transfers, to ensure that stores have adequate stock levels to meet customer demand.
- Works closely with Planning team to Identify slow-moving or obsolete inventory and implement strategies to minimise markdowns, clear end of life and liquidate excess inventory to suitable partners or organisations
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including buying, planning, marketing, e-commerce, retail and VM, to align merchandising strategies with overall business objectives.
- Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders to share insights, coordinate activities, and address any issues or challenges related to merchandise planning and execution.
- Build strong relationships with external partners, such as suppliers, vendors, and industry contacts, to stay informed about market trends, product availability, and emerging opportunities
- Lead, nurture and inspire a high performing and passionate merchandising team

**KPIs**
- Net revenues, inventory cover, core contribution, country customer acquisition and retention

**Requirements**:
**You Should Have / Be**:

- Passionate about fashion and apparel and a good understanding of LB
- Extreme ownership and a self-starter who is hands-on with a ‘get things done’ attitude
- Gritty and able to work under pressure; comfortable to navigate through uncertainty
- Desire to work in a dynamic and fast paced environment
- Performance-centric mindset with a strong desire to achieve targets
- Commercial savviness and customer centric mindset
- Strong analytical skills, with attention to detail, with the ability to analyse sales data, market trends, and financial metrics to make data-driven decisions.
- Strong communication and excellent collaboration and stakeholder management skills
- Growth mindset and sense of continuous improvement
- Mature leader who is able to manage, influence and inspire direct and indirect teams
- An embodiment and role model of LB’s values
- At least 5 years in merchandising, 2 years as manager
- Knowledgeable with a keen eye and passion for fashion

**Benefits**

**1. Flexible Work Arrangement**
- Work from anywhere*
- Hybrid work and adjustable hours - as long as present during our core working hours

**2. Staff Wellness**
- Comprehensive corporate insurance (Fully covered visits