Associate Buying Manager

This role is responsible for pre-season assortment and in-season sales performance management for DTC Retail channels (DTC FP & DTC Outlet):

• Own channel-specific assortment strategy and product mix, including exclusive styles and key looks by store tier

• Maximize in-season performance and product gross margin through active monitoring, assortment optimization, and cross-functional action on risks and opportunities

30% DTC Retail Channel Strategy, Assortment Ownership, and Merchandising Execution

• Provide DTC retail channel-specific insights (consumer trends, performance, competition) to shape merchandising buying strategy

• Own assortment planning and product mix by DTC retail channel, ensuring clear architecture across category, price ladder, and lifecycle

• Define channel-exclusive styles and key items to support differentiation and brand heat

• Develop key looks (head-to-toe outfits) by store tier to elevate product storytelling and retail execution

• Translate China range into commercially viable assortment for DTC Retail channel

• Own discount planning, ensuring alignment with sell-through and inventory strategy

• Drive gross margin (GM) and profit management, balancing full-price sell-through, markdown strategy, and brand positioning

• Ensure alignment between assortment decisions, pricing strategy, discount plan, and financial targets

50%

In-season Performance & Agile Optimization

• Monitor in-season product performance (sell-through, margin, weeks of supply) across DTC Retail channels

• Adjust assortment dynamically based on sell-through trends and consumer response

• Identify key winners and risks, and drive timely actions (chase, exit, rebalance)

• Continuously optimize full-price sell-through and markdown efficiency to protect profitability

• Proactively identify slow-moving products and structural risks

• Define and lead discount strategy and markdown actions to clear inventory while protecting brand value

• Align closely with CM / Sales / Planning teams on execution of promotion and liquidation plans

• Ensure healthy lifecycle management across full-price and markdown phases

20% Cross-functional Collaboration

• Act as the key bridge between Finance, Merchandising, Planning, Sales, and Marketing

• Ensure end-to-end alignment from assortment strategy to sales execution

• Provide actionable inputs to:

- Marketing/VM → storytelling and campaign focus