Who We Are:
At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.
Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.
Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:
· Runner First
We act in the best interest of the runner
· Word is Bond
We do what we say we’ll do
· Champion Heart
We give our all in everything we do
· There is no “I” in Run
We stay generous with our humanity
· Keep Moving
We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!
We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.
Your Job:
The Assistant Merchandising Manager, APLA is a key product person focused on Brooks footwear success which translates to revenue and margin. You work closely with demand planning, sales, brand marketing, color trend, and product line management to create relevant runner, channel and market assortments that resonates to Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) consumers. Your main responsibility is to influence and merchandise the footwear line for the best product line outcome delivering the right product at the right time at the right place and at the right price. You are the “eyes and ears” of the competition as it pertains to the market, the runner and the customer.
This position requires 15% travel.
Your Responsibilities:
Assess and deliver runner readiness and relevant assortments each season to ensure market readiness and competitive advantage for APLA region.
Merchandise the footwear line to maximize APLA business, customer, consumer opportunities
Act as “eyes and ears” for footwear (business, market, customer, channel, runner) and provide feedback to the footwear team.
Assess bi-annual competitive analysis of Brooks products vs. our competitors on fit/feel/ride/support/price/value. Present analysis findings to product creation teams and identify and recommend opportunities where we can focus efforts to improve products.
Analyze brand performance, brand competitiveness, product trends and make recommendations based on your research and analysis.
Validate seasonal article counts, price points, widths, and color flow
Drive seasonal data inputs including colorways, prices, and intro dates for Flex PLM, ensuring accuracy of information and updating changes throughout the season.
Participate in product prelines with APLA key markets to obtain feedback on design, materials, color, and price. Consolidate feedback from prelines for scorecard to inform product decisions. Synthesize and aggregate the information and prioritize for communications to Design and Development.
Create product preline presentations and facilitate preline discussion with APLA key markets.
As APLA product representative for the footwear line, provide runner and market insights to the color team to support creating the right color choices during the creation process.
Collaborate with the color teams to create the seasonal assortments
Participate in APLA sales meeting. Support creating merchandising presentations and product line plan, to deliver clear seasonal direction and achieve regional YOY growth.
Collaborate with cross function including marketing, operation and sales to ensure successful go-to-market.
Ensure go-in margin meets Brooks targets and recommend solutions if margin doesn’t meet the target.
Embraces and lives Brooks values!
Your Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum 3 years’ prior experience in working with footwear product and at least 1 years of working for a running footwear brand.
Creative thinker with the ability to effectively communicate and convey ideas to design, development, color and trend.
Working knowledge of the footwear product merchandising process, retail environment and consumer buying habits
Strong business orientation and analytical skills in managing SKU efficiency, product mix, and profitability
Demonstrated ability to conceive/create new thinking and ideas pertaining to the consumer and the product line
Strong ability to work professionally and efficiently within the team and across departments and connect different functions
Excellent oral and written communications skills – skilled presenter, great communication ability
Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate to achieve progress toward goals
Results-oriented person with the ability to balance numerous tasks and utilize all available resources
Ability to work professionally and efficiently within the team and across departments
Passion for the running enthusiast and active lifestyle
Travel 15% (Domestic and internationally)
At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.
