【Main Responsibilities】
1. Market and Customer Strategy.Conduct market research and analyse furniture, interior and consumer trends in Japan.Regularly visit customer stores, furniture retailers, showrooms and exhibitions.Collect and analyse feedback from customers, retail floor staff and the Japan sales team.・Identify market opportunities, customer requirements, missing price points and gaps in the current product range.・Work with the DPM Manager, Sales team and APAC teams to develop product and merchandising strategies suitable for Japan.・Prepare market, competitor and customer reports with clear conclusions and recommendations.
2. Product Selection and Merchandising.
・Review products developed or offered by APAC R&D and merchandising teams and select products suitable for the Japanese market.・Organise and structure sofa and furniture models into commercially attractive product ranges.
・Ensure that the product range is aligned with Japanese customer needs, retail price expectations and market trends.・Maintain a balanced product assortment across different designs, sizes, seating comfort levels, materials and price points.・Identify products that should be introduced, improved, repositioned or discontinued.・Ensure that new products are sufficiently differentiated from existing products and competitors.
3. Product Development.
・Work closely with APAC R&D, sourcing teams and factories to develop products suitable for the Japanese market.・Prepare product briefs based on market requirements, customer feedback, target prices and required margins.・Support the development of standard products, Japan-specific products and customer-specific products.・Consider Japanese market requirements such as product dimensions, seat height, seat depth, firmness, functionality, design and quality expectations.・Coordinate product samples and follow the development process from the initial concept through costing, sampling, review and final approval.・Ensure samples are available on time for customer presentations, exhibitions and showroom launches.・Support the introduction of new materials, designs, functions and construction methods.
4. Pricing, Cost and Margin Management
・Analyse product costs, selling prices, retail price points and gross margins.・Work with the DPM Manager, APAC teams and factories to ensure products are commercially competitive.・Support cost negotiations and product adjustments to achieve the required price and margin.・Ensure that products are developed according to the correct target price from the beginning.・Review the impact of exchange rates, material costs and market conditions on product pricing.・Recommend pricing or specification changes when necessary.・Support the preparation of product forecasts and pricing models.
5. Product Performance Analysis.
・Analyse sales performance, product margins, customer performance and product life cycles.・Identify successful products, underperforming products and unnecessary duplication within the range.・Recommend actions such as product improvements, price adjustments, repositioning, additional training or discontinuation.・Create clear replacement recommendations for discontinued products.・Maintain product lists, development schedules and launch plans.・Follow up on new product launches and evaluate performance against expectations.
6. Customer and Sales Support
・Support the Japan sales team in customer meetings and product presentations.・Prepare product proposals and product packages suitable for individual customers.・Provide information regarding product specifications, materials, construction, pricing and positioning.・Help the sales team explain the differences and advantages of our products.・Participate in customer presentations during domestic and international furniture exhibitions.・Support customer-specific product-development projects.・Work with the Sales team to identify opportunities to increase product displays and retail floor space.
7. Product Training and Communication
・Conduct product training for the Japan Sales, Marketing and other relevant teams.・Support product training for customers and retail floor staff.・Prepare clear product information, selling points and product comparisons.・Work with Marketing and Sales to develop credible product stories and presentation materials.・Explain product construction, materials, leather or fabric, comfort, functionality and manufacturing background.・Ensure that product information is easy for retail floor staff and customers to understand and use.
8. Exhibitions and Showroom Management
・Support product selection for Japanese exhibitions, showrooms and customer presentations.・Work with the DPM, Sales, Marketing and Operations teams to ensure samples and product information are prepared on time.・Participate in relevant domestic and international exhibitions, including CIFF in China, when required.・Support customer presentations and product selection during exhibitions.・Review showroom product assortments and recommend changes when required.・Prepare exhibition and showroom follow-up reports.
9. Cross-Functional and APAC Collaboration
・Act as a link between the Japanese market and APAC product-development functions.・Communicate Japanese market and customer requirements clearly to APAC Merchandising, R&D, Sourcing and manufacturing teams.・Work closely with Japan DPM, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality and Finance teams.・Follow up on product-development projects, samples, pricing and agreed actions.・Identify and communicate risks related to cost, quality, specifications or timing.・Support product-related quality and claim analysis when required.