Branding and Apparel Specialist

At Honda we embrace inclusion in our various policies, so whilst our contracts state that the hours are as required to fulfil the role with a minimum of 35 hours per week, we offer flexibility for when you work.  The regular office hours are 08:00 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday with a half hour lunch break & 08:00 – 13:00 on a Friday.  However, we offer flexibility of when you work with our daily flex-time start of between 07:00 and 11:00 providing that there is no business requirement.
 

Whilst there is no contractual right to work from home, the flexibility we offer is that you can request to work from home 2 days per week, again providing there is no business requirement to attend the office.

Role: 
Reporting to the Head of Network Development and Branding, this role is responsible for the planning, coordination and continuous development of Honda’s European apparel and branded products activities. The position leads the annual apparel line-up process, working closely with European branches and the apparel supplier to define, implement and monitor a product range that supports Honda’s commercial and brand objectives. 

The role holder is responsible for coordinating market requirements, forecasting activities and sales analysis to ensure the apparel proposition remains relevant, commercially successful and aligned with customer needs. The position also supports the implementation of dealer merchandising standards and contributes to the evolution of Honda’s brand presentation across the European dealer network. 

The objective is to maximise market participation, apparel sales and brand consistency across Europe, while ensuring Honda’s apparel and merchandising activities enhance the customer experience and strengthen the appeal of the Honda brand. 

Main Responsibilities:

Apparel Line-up Planning

• Lead the annual apparel line-up planning process with the apparel suppliers and in collaboration with European branches. 
• Gather market requirements, customer feedback and branch input to identify opportunities for product range improvement. 
• Develop proposals for new products, product revisions and range rationalisation. 
• Ensure apparel collections reflect Honda brand values, customer expectations and market opportunities. 

Market Coordination and Forecasting 

• Coordinate forecasting activities across European markets to support product planning, inventory decisions and launch preparation. 
• Consolidate market requirements and provide recommendations based on demand, trends and sales performance. 
• Support the launch of new apparel collections and seasonal updates across the region. 

Sales Performance Monitoring

• Monitor apparel sales performance across European markets and identify opportunities for growth. 
• Analyse sales trends, product performance and market participation rates. 
• Produce regular reports and recommendations to improve sales results and product mix effectiveness. 
• Support the definition and tracking of apparel-related KPIs. 

Supplier Coordination

• Manage day-to-day coordination with the apparel supplier, supporting product development timings, launch plans and issue resolution. 
• Track supplier deliverables and ensure activities align with Honda quality, branding and commercial requirements. 
• Support commercial discussions and budget tracking where required, within the limited financial responsibility of the role. 

Dealer Merchandising and Brand Presentation 

• Develop and maintain merchandising guidance to support effective apparel presentation within dealerships. 
• Promote consistent implementation of merchandising standards across European markets. 
• Guide the promotion through digital and physical assets and channels in collaboration with Marketing Division.
• Support dealer initiatives that improve product visibility, customer engagement and adoption of merchandising standards. 
• Contribute to the development of in-store branding and customer-facing promotional materials. 

Branding Support and IP Coordination 

• Support the development of Honda’s brand presentation across physical and digital customer touchpoints, with the branding scope expected to grow over time. 
• Contribute to brand activation activities, events and promotional initiatives where apparel and merchandising are involved. 
• Liaise with intellectual Property Division in defining collaborations, events and promotional initiatives where apparel and merchandising are involved. 

Qualifications, skills and experience:
Required

• Commercial awareness and analytical skills 
• Experience in product planning, merchandising, apparel, branded products or related activities. 
• Strong communication, coordination and stakeholder management skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities across international markets. 
• Results-oriented, with strong attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines. 
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint. 
• Ability to analyse sales performance and convert findings into practical recommendations. 

Desirable

• Passion for Motorcycles 
• Fluency in other European language(s) is an advantage  

Honda is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in the workplace for all employees, temporary workers, contractors, applicants and visitors. Honda also encourages respect for the individual differences and talents of others while making full use of one's own abilities, based on Honda's philosophy of respect for the individual.

At Honda, we value and celebrate diversity and are committed to being a fair, non-discriminatory company that promotes and welcomes the uniqueness and differences of people around the world. We recognise that a diverse workforce allows for different ideas and perspectives, and we encourage everyone to share them. We strive to foster a culture of belonging that is consistent with Honda's core values and lived out in the way we work and respect each other. For us at Honda, diversifying our workforce means increasing its overall strength by providing people with equal opportunities - regardless of personal characteristics or previous careers.

This commitment flows directly from the Honda philosophy and the belief that we are all working towards a common goal. Honda recruits, hires, trains and promotes the most qualified/experienced individuals at all levels without regard to race, origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.