Vice President Brand Management

About The Company:

Founded in late 2014, Affordable Luxury Group is a leading global handbag company, home to a portfolio of beloved and admired brands; Aimee Kestenberg, and American Leather Co.

Our commitment to offer high quality, trend-right luxury pieces at accessible pricing is at the heart of the Company. We have built a reputation for designing exceptional, innovative products and being a trusted partner with our various global retailer customers.

With an understanding that we only have one planet, Affordable Luxury Group prioritizes responsible & ethical sourcing, using environmentally friendly materials and processes. Our brands are proud members of the Leather Working Group, which ensures that the materials being sourced meet the highest environmental standards.

With hard work comes recognition; in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, the Company landed on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies.

Visit Us - www.AffordableLuxuryGroup.com

About The Job:

The Vice President, Brand Management position will define and oversee the strategy, vision, merchandising, and execution of the Aimee Kestenberg brand business. As the architect of the product offering, the VP works closely with their partners across all areas of the business to ensure we develop and execute strategies with a deep understanding of our existing and potential customers todeliver high quality products and innovation that drives commercial success and brand growth. The VP partners with the CEO to inform, involve and validate key strategic decisions.

The VP partners with consumer insights, marketing, sales, design and supply chain to drive brand innovation and deliver an integrated go-to-market strategy across all channels and regions. They lead the cross-functional team to execute with excellence. The VP is responsible for determining channel focused assortments and product investments. They are the primary owner of product investments, working closely with finance and the business unit leaders to ensure financial accountability and management.

Reports To: CEO & Aimee Kestenberg (Chief Creative Officer)

Key Accountabilities:

• Develop the Aimee Kestenberg brand architecture & product strategy; communicate and align teams around the vision across channels.
• Actively lead market week events to drive appointments, bookings, ensuring all product and showroom is on par with brand DNA.
• Partner with Sales to support individual accounts and travel as required to present product, strategy, and financial targets for season sell-in for both in store and digital businesses
• Continuously brings new and relevant ideas to drive brand innovation; manages collaborations and partnerships with outside creators
• This leader must develop and maintain strong retail partnerships with executives and buyers.
• Oversee all aspects of brand management, including brand strategy, competitive landscape, product development, pricing models and inventory management
• Provide insights for future product development and opportunities, support seasonal assortment planning by customer and create suggested assortments by channel/consumer to drive year over year adoption rate for the total business
• Provide competitive market analysis
• Manage monthly sales performance by account (including sales booked and shipped) to ensure goals are being met and at-once opportunities are being driven.
• Collaborate with the Visual/Marketing team to position brand properly from an in-store and digital perspective
• Partner with Planning to finalize factory buys, optimize growth, drive replenishment, and manage close out levels
• Lead the brand to educate and guide best practices

Qualifications:

• Advanced financial and analytical skills; understands the critical levers to drive financial success; can develop strategic Insights and actions using data; can present financial data.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to see the business 360 from strategy through execution; highly agile to work high and low to make the business happen.
• Strong leadership skills including communication, Influence and facilitating cross-functional alignment.
• Experience in handbags, fashion, and leather goods accessories. Must have experience with handbag businesses and with DTC, ecommerce, and wholesale business channels.
• Proven success building a commercial product line with commercial success in the market; put the customer first and possesses strong product sensibility and commercial acumen.
• Agility to set strategy and tactics to empower and supports the team to execute with excellence.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and willing to take risks, learn from mistakes.
• 10+ years of relevant experience, including ownership of merchandising and merchandise planning; has driven a brand architecture, assortment strategy and product investments.