Reason for Hiring:

GU is currently in a phase of further growth as a global fashion brand originating in Japan.
Building on the successful model we’ve cultivated domestically, we are driving a transformation toward product development and business models that resonate with customers worldwide. As a result, further enhancing product quality and establishing a globally competitive product strategy have become key priorities.
To achieve this, we are seeking a merchandiser who can lead the process from product strategy to sales planning while collaborating with diverse partners across management, R&D, production, and marketing.

Department Overview:

At GU, the product division integrates Merchandising (MD), R&D, Production, Product Planning, Marketing, the Customer Center, and Stores to drive the business forward. Within this structure, the MD in this position serves as the “business command center,” responsible for determining product lineups, pricing strategies, and sales strategies based on market and customer needs analysis, and ensuring that planned products are successfully delivered to customers.

Job Description：

As a merchandiser for your assigned category (Women’s, Men’s, Kids, Underwear, etc.), you will be responsible for the entire process—from formulating product strategies to product development and sales planning. You will play a central role in GU’s product development, and your decisions will have a significant and direct impact on business results. Specifically, your duties will include the following:

• Market and Customer Understanding: Collaborate with the Sales Department and Customer Center to identify customer needs, and conduct analyses of domestic and international markets, competitors, and trends
• Product Strategy Development: Develop seasonal product strategies and business plans based on numerical analysis of sales, gross profit, inventory, and other metrics, in consultation with management both domestically and internationally
• Product Development: Collaborate with R&D designers and patternmakers, as well as the Production Department, to carry out product planning and material development.
• Sales Strategy Development: Collaborate with the Marketing Department, Product Planning Department, Sales Department, and E-commerce Division to make decisions regarding product launches, additional production, and sales initiatives based on actual sales performance
• Work with executive management and all departments to execute decisions regarding business progress and countermeasures for issues on a monthly and weekly basis, based on the plans formulated above

*We will determine the optimal onboarding process based on your experience. This may include approximately six months of in-store training after joining the company, as well as approximately one year of training in the product planning domain to help you understand GU’s business cycle and systems from upstream to downstream.
*The Job Description may change within the scope of duties related to each headquarters department due to department transfers or organizational changes.

Position Highlights

(1) Take a Central Role in GU’s Brand Transformation
GU is currently undergoing a period of transformation, revitalizing its products, brand, and organization. You’ll have the opportunity to take on a highly influential role as a key contributor to building the new GU.
(2) Conduct business on a global scale
You will be involved in developing product strategies with a global perspective, targeting not only Japan but also Greater China and the U.S.
(3) Opportunity to Grow into a Business Leader
Since MDs oversee the entire business—including products, sales, profits, and inventory—you can expect career paths leading to roles such as Product Department Manager, Business Unit Head, overseas assignments, or executive leadership positions in the future.

[Career Examples for Mid-Career Hires]

• Case 1: Leveraging MD experience gained in a previous role, this individual led the development, execution, and refinement of product strategies and business plans—going beyond mere numerical analysis to incorporate both explicit and latent customer needs as well as market trends. By relentlessly pursuing and achieving high results without compromise, they advanced their career year after year and, even after returning from maternity and parental leave, continued to drive the business as the leader of the Kids Team.
• Case 2: Drawing on prior experience in store management, section management, and merchandising, this individual drove results by planning, executing, and refining customer-centric product planning and business plans. Within one year of joining, they became a key member supporting the team. Two years later, they advanced to a leadership role and were assigned to an overseas operation. After gaining experience in product strategy and business planning from a global perspective, they now serve as the leader of the men’s team.

Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience in corporate planning, business strategy, sales planning, product planning, marketing, or merchandising (MD), where you have independently identified challenges related to sales and key performance indicators for products, services, or business units—based on a thorough customer-centric approach—and have formulated, implemented, and validated solutions
• Ability to engage executives and related departments and achieve high results through teamwork
• Leadership that drives initiatives toward missions and results by engaging others
• The ability to make swift decisions based on both quantitative and qualitative information across all aspects of the business—from planning to sales (including sales performance and cost management)
• A strong interest in GU’s business model—which aims to be the world’s best, originating in Japan—as well as a keen interest in fashion and clothing, including regularly gathering information on these topics, and a strong desire to be involved in product planning

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in merchandise planning, product planning, or as a buyer in the apparel and fashion industry
• Ability to grasp the essence of trends (rather than chasing fleeting trends, the ability to thoroughly analyze societal changes, shifts in lifestyles, and what customers explicitly or implicitly seek from GU and Lifewear)

Company Name

GU Co., Ltd.

Employment Type

Full-time Employee (Permanent Position, with a 3-month probationary period)

Annual Salary

• Annual Salary Range: 6.56 million to 10.26 million yen (Monthly Salary: 330,000 to 570,000 yen)
• Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (*All subject to company regulations)
• Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
• Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)

*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.

Working Hours

Flexible work schedule or managerial/supervisory position

• Flexible work schedule

Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; Break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours…6:00 AM–9:00 AM and 2:00 PM–8:00 PM; overtime work may occur

• Supervisors

Based on the working hours of the employee’s department; left to the employee’s discretion

Holidays and Leave

Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays; national holidays are considered workdays) Annual paid leave, special leave and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)

Insurance Coverage

Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)

Employee Benefits

Employee stock ownership plan, mutual aid association, partner welfare programs, employee discount program, cafeteria, dedicated shuttle bus (for commuting to the Ariake office), defined contribution pension plan

Other

• We are actively recruiting mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
• Within the Fast Retailing Group, you may apply to multiple companies simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds at multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
• Based on your submitted resume and interview evaluations, we may suggest other positions at different companies within the Fast Retailing Group.
• Secondhand Smoke Policy: Smoking is prohibited on the premises and indoors; we do not have designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)

Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.