Assistant Merchandising Manager
Chanel in Shanghai seeks an Assistant Merchandising Manager to support assortment planning, forecasting and allocation for its fashion collections.
Overview
Chanel is an independent French maison renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and beauty. The brand combines artisanal craftsmanship with global retail operations and consistently positions creativity, heritage and client experience at the centre of its business.
Role & Responsibilities
- Support assortment planning and seasonal range construction for ready-to-wear and accessories segments, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and commercial targets.
- Prepare sales forecasts, manage open-to-buy and contribute to financial planning and margin optimisation across allocated categories.
- Monitor sell-through, inventory levels and ageing; propose allocation and replenishment strategies to maximise sell-through and minimise markdowns.
- Analyse sales and trading performance using weekly/monthly reports; identify trends and recommend action plans to buyers and retail teams.
- Coordinate cross-functionally with buying, planning, visual merchandising, marketing and store operations to ensure timely product launches and consistent in-store presentation.
- Manage SKU-level assortment, pricing inputs and promotional calendar support; oversee product lifecycle from launch to markdown.
- Contribute to vendor and internal stakeholder meetings; ensure accurate merchandise data and documentation for allocations and stock movements.
- Assist in ad-hoc commercial projects, business reviews and market-specific assortment localisation for Greater China.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Economics or related discipline.
- 3–5 years of merchandising, buying or planning experience, preferably within luxury fashion or premium retail.
- Demonstrable numerical and analytical aptitude with experience in forecasting and inventory control.
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of assortment and lifecycle management.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.
- Attention to detail and ability to work to tight seasonal deadlines.
Skills
Experience
Minimum 3–5 years in merchandising, buying or planning within luxury fashion or premium retail, with hands-on responsibility for assortment planning, forecasting and inventory management.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, Economics or a related field.
Culture
Chanel cultivates a workplace defined by sartorial excellence, craftsmanship and a strong creative heritage. The environment is collaborative and fast-paced, with high expectations for discretion, attention to detail and an unwavering focus on client experience and product quality.