Manager Outlet Business

The OUTLET business manager for factory outlets is responsible for driving sales across categories, planning the assortment, maintaining the discounted and fresh balance in Outlets, taking the pre-order and getting the same executed, optimizing markdown, gross margin, and inventory productivity for the Factory Outlet channel. This role requires close coordination with Buying & Merchandising as well as the Planning and Allocation team, Retail Operations, and ensures that Outlets are well-stocked throughout the season with fast sellers and never out of stock in running sizes, need to drive the profitability, and aligned with the overall stock aging and liquidation strategy.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Reported & Secondary Sales for the Outlet Channel.

1. Ensure that the reported numbers are achieved in all the categories.
2. Order vs Execution is 100% across all the partners.
3. Need to ensure the discounted stock movement from CS to Outlet for Coco and B2S2 for Franchisee as part of 10% stock correction post EOSS.
4. Take pre-orders for fresh merchandise from the partners and ensure the execution of the same is done.

• Merchandise Planning & Allocation

1. Highlight seasonal and monthly merchandise gaps to the partners and work in sync with planning and B&M team.
2. Identify the aging, cut sizes inventory that needs to be liquidated from Factory Outlet Stores.
3. Forecast demand and plan inventory based on historical data, current market trends, and liquidation pipeline.
4. Ensure timely allocation and replenishment of stock to Factory Outlet stores based on store grade, size, and sales potential.

• Inventory Management:

1. Monitor aging inventory and work closely with central planning to route overstock/slow-moving merchandise to Factory Outlets.
2. Optimize inventory levels to reduce markdowns while maximizing sell-through and profitability.
3. Drive the liquidation process for excess, discontinued, or past-season inventory.

• EBITA & Gross Margin at Channel level:

1. Analyze sales trends, Gross Margin, store performance, drive L2L growth, KPIs & conversion for all outlet stores.
2. Recommend pricing strategies, markdowns, and promotional plans for the Factory Outlet channel.

• Cross-functional Coordination with B&M , P&A and Regional Team.

1. Collaborate with the Buying & Planning team of the Full-Price channel for effective inventory transfer strategies.
2. Coordinate with Retail Operations for store performance, product feedback, and offer execution.
3. Plan offer and schemes keeping in mind the gross margin impact & mark down for the channel.

• Reviews, Reports & Analysis

1. Monthly, quarterly & half yearly reviews with regional team to arrest the degrowth and understand the pain points.
2. Share the promo efficiency report and drive strategic initiatives to improve the Outlet Inventory health.
3. Generate weekly/monthly reports on inventory health, sales, markdown performance, and stock turns.
4. Share Performance summary on monthly basis and ensure healthy month cover in stores.
5. Identify opportunities for improvement and present findings to senior leadership.
6. Competition mapping report & identifying the markets where skechers is not present.

• Key Skills & Competencies:

1. Strong analytical and numerical skills, good with advanced Excel and planning tool proficiency (Power BI, power-point presentations)
2. Understanding of Factory Outlet and liquidation business models like value formats or off-priced retailers.
3. Commercial acumen and business sense.
4. Strong communication and collaboration skills.
5. Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
6. Knowledge of retail KPIs : ATV, UPT, SFR, Conversions, – Sell-through, GMROI, Stock Turn, EBITA, Gross Margin, Stock cover, Markdown, Annual Budget Planning, promo efficiency report, Stock to sales ratio.

• Qualifications:

1. Graduate/Postgraduate in Business, Retail, or Fashion Merchandising
2. 12 – 15 years of experience in merchandising, planning, or allocation roles, preferably in Factory Outlet or off-price formats.