Merchandising Director

Role Overview

The Merchandising Director at Louis Vuitton Middle East (LVME) spearheads the merchandising strategy for all retail categories, including Leather Goods, Ready-To-Wear, Shoes, Perfumes & Beauty, Watches & Jewelry, Accessories, Travel & Home. The role ensures alignment with brand identity, optimizes commercial performance, and enhances client experience throughout the retail network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the LVME retail merchandising approach, adapting local initiatives to reflect Maison’s DNA and business goals.
• Manage assortment strategy, store segmentation, capacity planning, and activation calendars rigorously.
• Enforce adherence to pricing, product presentation, and display standards to maintain brand prestige across stores.
• Lead the merchandising team in collaboration with EMEA and Central buying units to secure pivotal SKUs tailored for Middle East markets.
• Analyze sales metrics, monitor margins and sell-through rates, applying data-driven insights to enhance performance continuously.
• Coordinate annual and seasonal planning with regional teams, covering budgeting, forecasting, and resource deployment.
• Conduct competitive analysis, channel segmentation, and introduce innovations to keep Maison competitive and trendsetting.
• Motivate and develop merchandising managers and in-field personnel to cultivate accountability and empowerment.
• Serve as a liaison among zone and local teams, retail operations, marketing, and supply chain to accelerate alignment and decision-making.
• Represent merchandising interests in executive and Maison-wide committees, advocating for commercial outcomes and superior client experiences.
• Improve the in-store experience by aligning product storytelling, visual merchandising, and activation strategies with evolving customer needs.
• Gather and analyze market feedback to inform agile, innovative merchandising responses.
• Champion retail excellence with consistent luxury service and visual standards at every boutique.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, or related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of merchandising experience, including a minimum of 5 years in leadership roles within luxury retail.
• Proven working knowledge of the Middle Eastern market and luxury consumer behavior in the region.
• Track record of successful merchandising strategy implementation driving sales and profitability.
• Advanced analytical capabilities for interpreting complex data to make strategic decisions.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to inspire and manage teams effectively.
• Fluency in English mandatory; proficiency in Arabic highly desirable.