Collection Merchandiser Shoes

At the heart of Maison Margiela’s product vision, the Collection Merchandising Shoes, directly reporting to the Head of Collection Merchandising Shoes, contributes to defining and driving an ambitious collection strategy, fully aligned with the brand’s DNA and business objectives.

Acting as a key interface between Creative and markets, he/she ensures the desirability, consistency, and sustainable performance of the offer.

Collection Vision & Strategy

• Define the seasonal collection architecture (from brief to showroom), in alignment with the artistic direction and the Maison’s strategic priorities.
• Build a balanced and differentiated offering (permanent & seasonal), ensuring consistency, clarity, and market impact.
• Anticipate market evolutions through competitive and forward-looking analysis (product, pricing, usage, customer behavior).

Product Development & Offer Excellence

• Develop precise and inspiring collection briefs, integrating both desirability and performance objectives.
• Support product development in close collaboration with Creation, Development, and Production teams.
• Ensure the right balance between creative expression, innovation, and commercial potential.
• Manage the product lifecycle with a continuous optimization mindset.

In partnership with the Retail Merchandising team

• Define the buying strategy with Central Merchandising and regional teams.
• Define main order selections and the core offer.
• Optimize regional buying strategies, ensuring assortment consistency.
• Conduct sell‑out and best‑seller analyses as needed (weekly, monthly, seasonal).
• Define the worldwide sales strategy and calendar with the support of regions.

Pricing & Business Performance

• Define a pricing strategy aligned with the Maison’s positioning and market expectations.
• Secure collection profitability by managing margins and supporting cost arbitrations.
• Identify optimization levers to maximize the overall value of the offering.

Analysis & Business Intelligence

• Lead collection performance analysis (sell‑in, sell‑out, sell‑through, margins, best‑sellers).
• Consolidate and interpret market feedback (retail & wholesale) to extract strategic insights.
• Provide structured recommendations to feed future collections and support growth.

Cross‑functional Leadership & Orchestration

• Align teams around a clear and ambitious product vision.
• Ensure smooth coordination between Creation, Development, Production, Finance, Retail, and Wholesale.
• Act as a key contributor during strategic milestones (showrooms, presentations, buying sessions), embodying the merchandising vision.

Training & Operational Excellence

• Ensure the accuracy of product storytelling and the quality of collection tools.
• Support go‑to‑market execution up to the point of sale, ensuring full understanding of the offer.
• Contribute to high value‑added cross‑functional projects for the Maison.

Profile

• 3 years of experience in Collection Merchandising.
• Strong product sensitivity with a solid fashion/luxury culture and knowledge of the shoes sector.
• Strategic vision combined with strong analytical rigor.
• Ability to navigate demanding and fast‑evolving environments.
• Cross‑functional leadership, strong influencing skills, and excellent interpersonal abilities.
• Appetite for innovation, attention to detail, and execution excellence.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, is essential.
• Fluent French and English required; Italian is a plus.