Wholesale Sales Director

Diesel has long been a leading pioneer in denim and casual fashion, known for moving outside and ahead of trends in its industry. While retaining always its DNA, in recent years Diesel has evolved into the world of premium casual wear, becoming a true alternative to the established luxury market. Diesel is a truly worldwide organization. It is present in more than 80 countries with 5,000 points of sale, including more than 400 company owned stores.

 

As we continue to expand the brand with bold ambitions, the Wholesale Sales Director will be responsible for achieving profitable sales and oversee the management to service efforts for planning, budgeting, and execution across all markets in the US and Canada. We are looking for a Sales Director who will bring innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit to be the lead in our ambitious success story. 

 

JOB PURPOSE

 

Leads the local commercial development of Diesel for specialty and department stores with the aim of reaching Company sales objectives, to contribute to the deployment of the brand strategy at the local level and ensuring targeted levels of sell-in and sell-through are achieved. In this role you will develop a clear strategic plan for the business, in accordance with the development strategy and with the goal set by the CEO, with the objective of increasing the financial performance of the business (revenues, margins, profitability etc). The Director or Wholesale will assess the current business (distribution, positioning etc), make suggestions regarding appropriate changes and propose any changes to refine the product/service offer.

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• Proposes to CEO wholesale development plans (short, medium and long term) at local level for all the brands consistently with the strategy of each brand's positioning, market characteristics and business goals.

• Identifies opportunities and threats to business; provides weekly reporting and recommendations on core sales activities and performance to CEO for review and analysis.

• Ensures core sales initiatives are in line with brand direction.

• Be aware and advised on monthly P&L information for male and female businesses; develop plan to ensure targeted P&L is achieved.

• Collaborates with Communications/Marketing teams to leverage sales opportunities across all mediums.

• Manages team expenses to ensure costs remain within budget.

• Organizes, plans and leads local sales campaigns, monitoring daily data to verify results and taking appropriate actions in case of misalignment with the targets.

• Attends key account showroom sales appointments.

• Attends Preview Presentations and oversees US pricing for men’s, women’s, and accessories lines.

• Oversees management of core inventory and participates in category meetings as needed, identifying performance trends, commercial opportunities and threats, and inventory risks.

• Ensures Sales Team respond quickly to business threats and opportunities to maximize sales and minimize risks.

• Oversees and leads sales analysis; ensuring Sales Team effectively providing assigned categories sales performance data by account, door and style.

• Collaborates with Sales Planning to provide data for the CEO on the sell-through performance of core business and inventory levels.

• Oversees effective training of sales teams prior to sales appointments, ensuring specialized knowledge, awareness of market trends, and a comprehensive/brand appropriate product assortment is provided to customers.

• Collaborates with the Credit and Customer Service Departments to manage difficult customers.

• Liaise with Italy (HQ) to leverage US market trends, and provide further insight into product performance and needs within the US market

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 8+ years similar experience selling and overseeing sales of premium/luxury brand across US

• 5+ years in management role managing, motivating, and driving a team of 2+ direct reports

• Deep knowledge of market specific luxury environment

• Managed a business of $100+Million in sales volume

• Experience devising and implementing sales strategies to grow a brand – driving sell in, sell-thru, and expanding new business across new accounts

• Strong established relationships at the senior level with relevant department stores (Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, Saks, Barney’s, etc) and key specialty accounts

• Solid understanding of competitive landscape and market trends

• Strong business analysis skills, with experience pricing, performing market & budget analysis, editing a line, etc.

• Strong product knowledge and focus; Credibility with the market and with Brand

• Experience as a subsidiary interacting with a Global Headqua