Account Executive

Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Account Executive, Footwear

Position Summary

GUESS Canada is seeking an experienced, results-driven Account Executive to grow its Canadian wholesale footwear business.

The ideal candidate is a well-connected footwear professional with established relationships with Canadian retail buyers, strong market knowledge, and a proven ability to develop new business.

The role combines wholesale sales, account development, merchandising, and product development in collaboration with our footwear licensee partner. A key responsibility will be expanding the off-price business through account-specific product development, particularly with Winners.

Key Responsibilities 2. Off-Price Business – Winners 3. Licensee Collaboration, Merchandising & Pricing 4. Account Planning & Order Coordination

Sales & Business Development
Grow GUESS footwear sales across Canada by strengthening existing accounts and developing new business opportunities.
Leverage established buyer relationships to expand distribution across footwear chains, department stores, major retailers, and specialty stores.
Present seasonal collections, recommend customer-specific assortments, and negotiate pricing and sales commitments in collaboration with the Director of Wholesale.
Attend seasonal markets and industry events, including FFANY in New York, to develop customer relationships and identify opportunities.
Monitor competitive brands, retail trends, and market developments to support business growth.
Oversee the Canadian footwear assortment and ongoing business activities with Amazon.
Work closely with the Winners Buying team to grow the GUESS footwear business and identify new product opportunities.
Collaborate directly with our footwear licensee to develop exclusive or adapted styles tailored to Winners' assortment needs, target retail prices, and customer preferences.
Participate in product selection, design adjustments, materials, and costing to achieve competitive pricing while maintaining GUESS brand standards.
Coordinate product development, sample approvals, order confirmations, and deliveries.
Analyze sales performance and stock opportunities to recommend future assortments and increase business volume.
Work closely with our footwear licensee on seasonal collections, product development, costing, and production timelines.
Develop a thorough understanding of the licensee's operating procedures, seasonal calendars, and ordering processes.
Recommend assortments and account-specific products based on Canadian market trends, retailer needs, and historical sales.
Negotiate product costs in collaboration with the Director of Wholesale to ensure competitive pricing and profitability.
Collaborate with the GUESS Canada retail team to maintain consistent pricing strategies across retail and wholesale channels.
Participate in seasonal product reviews to evaluate performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with Planning on seasonal sales forecasts, inventory projections, purchasing commitments, and stock opportunities.
Monitor inventory availability, purchase orders, and shipment schedules to support timely customer deliveries.
Coordinate with internal Planning, Customer Service, and Logistics teams to ensure accurate order processing and fulfillment.
Provide necessary product information for SKU setup in internal systems.
Enter and maintain purchase orders in the licensee's ordering system and confirm seasonal commitments.

Qualifications & Job Requirements

Education & Experience

Marketing, Fashion Merchandising, or a related field preferred, or equivalent industry experience.
Minimum 5 years of experience in wholesale sales, preferably within the footwear or fashion industry.
Established relationships with Canadian footwear buyers, major retail chains, and off-price retailers.
Experience working with footwear manufacturers or licensee partners on product selection, development, and costing.
Experience with off-price retailers, particularly Winners, is a strong asset.

Skills & Competencies

Knowledge of the Canadian footwear market, retail landscape, and competitive brands.
Solid understanding of merchandising, assortment planning, pricing strategies, margins, and inventory planning.
Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Strong analytical abilities, including interpreting sales reports, identifying trends, and evaluating product performance.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle seasonal deadlines.
Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working independently and collaboratively

Additional Requirements

Ability and willingness to travel within Canada and internationally, particularly to New York for seasonal markets and customer meetings.
Bilingual in English and French
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external business partners.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE: 5+ Years

About the Department:

The GUESS?, LLC Wholesale division is seeking a talented individual to join their team. The division manages all US sales for our wholesale business, including apparel for men, women, and kids through a variety of retail customers including ecommerce, department and specialty stores. Wholesale is essential because it adds brand recognition beyond the GUESS?, LLC stores by increasing visibility and driving revenue. In the competitive fashion market, the wholesale division ensures our brand stands out with carefully curated selection of product. The fast-paced and ever-changing nature of this department requires a versatile individual with a strong understanding of product, business analytics, and the retail market.

Location - City, Region or Area

Corporate - Quebec

Location

Montreal Office

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in the Company’s recruitment processes. Should you require accommodation in the recruitment process, contact us here .