Account Development Director- Fashion
Job Function
This new position, reporting directly to the Vice President of Field Sales, is based on market demand for classic/retro boutique athletic fashion footwear. Responsibilities include creating, directing, and managing the footwear activities in such channels against a specific product line. This product line represents the classic styles of past eras and play to the fashion category in footwear retailing.
Performance will be measured through:
- Growth in market share at the target account
- SKU placement and sell-through at retail
- Account feedback
- Achievement of specific goals
- Effective time management
Responsibilities
- Understand and effectively communicate the needs of this customer segment in ongoing efforts to develop:
> Relevant technical product
> Competitive sales programs
> Effective marketing and promotional campaigns
> Competitive customer service practices. - Maintain effective customer communication relative to value of Saucony products and services and their fit with requirements of this channel.
- Work with accounts to develop effective sales, marketing and merchandising programs.
- Serve as credible go-to expert on all aspects of Saucony and competitor technical product.
- Mentor local sales reps in development of effective sales and product positioning techniques in this channel.
- Monitor all aspects of Sauconys customer service and the needs of each account relative to management of orders and inventory.
- Support development of accurate product forecasts by gathering key account sell-through / inventory information and feedback on product introductions / lifecycle.
- Clear communications regarding Saucony order management policies.
Characteristics
Were looking for someone with a minimum five years experience in the fashion footwear market segment, working with key accounts in sales, account marketing and general merchandising / buying. If you consider yourself someone who has a strong running background, affinity for running products, knowledge of the industry and seasonal elements of this business, then you might be right for this position. Better still, if you admired Saucony, while at the same time understand our competition, then this is an opportunity you need to check out.
Preferred candidates will have experience developing relationships with trend setting, fashion oriented boutique type stores. You must have demonstrated experience in fast paced concept- to- market product development. We require that you have solid product branding and development experience including knowledge of appropriate media and channel selection.
Were searching for someone has experience working with sales, design, and product development teams to educate and support new concepts. If you have solid understanding of “retail math” to include sell thru and inventory SKU turn concepts, then you meet our requirements.
This position offers high visibility in a very exciting segment of the footwear industry. You should possess confidence and be comfortable interacting with fashion trendsetters, high profile celebrities, and athletes. A sense for understanding current trends and the knack of recognizing developing trends is also key.
Other activities youll be expected to carry out include interacting, assist and mentoring sales reps on successful techniques of sell-in and sell-through of Fashion footwear. Time will be spent “in-market” conducting “real time” analysis/trend forecasting, working as a strategic partner with product development/design teams and developing innovative sales strategies.
Finally, we need someone whose time is somewhat flexible. This is because youll be asked to travel-up to 50% of your time – within the USA (NYC-LA). Additional travel will take you on European and Asian product trips.
About Saucony:
Saucony, Inc. is a leading global supplier of performance athletic footwear, casual footwear, apparel, and accessories with its widely recognized brands Saucony, Saucony Originals, Hind, and Spot-bilt. All Saucony, Inc. sports brands develop and manufacture technically advanced products that improve the performance of active sports participants.
We design, develop and market performance-oriented athletic footwear, athletic apparel and casual leather footwear. Our principal products are:
- Technical running, walking and outdoor trail shoes and athletic apparel, which we sell under the Saucony brand name;
- Technical running shoe models from the early 1980’s, which we reintroduced in 1998, as Saucony “Originals”, our classic footwear line;
- Athletic apparel, which we sell under the Hind brand name; and
- Shoes for coaches and officials, football and soccer cleats and casual leather walking and workplace footwear, which we sell under the Spot-bilt brand name.
Our products are sold in the United States at more than 5,500 retail locations and at our 19 factory outlet stores. Outside the United States our products are sold in 53 countries through 22 distributors located throughout the world and through our subsidiaries located in Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Response Guidelines:
All entries will be kept confidential. Include salary requirements in your cover letter, along with resume and address to:
Director, Human Resources
Saucony, Inc.
13 Centennial Drive
Peabody, MA 01960
978 326 5355 fax
No telephone calls, please.
Notice to Third-parties or Agency/Recruiters:
Principals only. Submissions and referrals (written, oral or otherwise) received from third-parties or agencies (contingent or retained) not currently under contract with Saucony, Inc. will be considered a gift, and as such, Saucony, Inc., will not be obligated to pay a fee or service charge of any amount related to gifted submissions. Saucony, Inc. actively maintains a Preferred Vendor List. Access and acceptance to the Preferred Vendor List is granted exclusively by Human Resources. Inquiries related to recruitment and candidate submissions must be directed to the Human Resources Department.
