General Manager

Kids21 is the exclusive partner for luxury designer label kidswear in the Asian region and have an enviable portfolio of brands and long-term trusted relationships not mirrored in other retail formats internationally.

Based in Singapore, Kids Space at Dempsey is a one stop destination where families can eat, play, learn and shop at their convenience. We buy and curate designer edits and aim to create a unique experience for parents and kids instore. We are an extraordinary group of people who love to engage with customers and create joy.

Job Summary

The General Manager reports directly to the Founder - COO and holds overall P&L responsibility for the multilabel Kids21, Kindred retail business and lifestyle business across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. This role drives the commercial direction of the portfolio, leads the annual business and financial planning cycle, and ensures stores deliver inspiring experiences true to each brand's identity. The GM grows the existing brand portfolio, develops new business and revenue streams, and partners closely with Merchandising, E-Commerce, Marketing, Creative, Private Label and other functional shared services to achieve the right product and services mix for a lifestyle business, excellent service delivery, sales and profitability targets.

This position is designed for a leader who understands the nuances of multilabel retail - balancing diverse brand needs, shaping commercial priorities, and building a high-performance retail culture anchored in passion, creativity and style.

Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Financial Planning

• Establish and implement approved strategic, financial and operational plans to achieve sales and profitability targets, in consultation with the Founder - COO.
• Lead the annual budgeting process for the region, including preparation of country/brand budgets, OTB planning, and capex for new stores and refits, in consultation with the Regional Merchandising Team and Founder.
• Monitor performance against approved budgets and plans on an ongoing basis review financials regularly with the Founder - COO and Group VP - Finance.
• Manage and present Monthly and Quarterly Business Reviews, highlighting risks, opportunities and corrective actions.
• Identify and act on opportunities for cost improvement or revenue growth during the planning process.
• Identify and develop wholesale opportunities for the Kindred brand, expanding distribution channels and partnerships to grow revenue beyond the existing retail network.
• Take ownership and oversight of the Kids21 Dempsey x Kids Space projects, ensuring alignment with overall business strategy and timely execution.

Business Development / Franchising Opportunities

• Explore growth initiatives for potential business development and/or franchising opportunities in consultation with the Founder - COO.
• Negotiate and present commercial terms to Founder - COO for consideration and approval.
• Develop and coordinate all contractual requirement and guidelines for franchising opportunities together with Group Finance.

Retail Operations & Commercial Performance

• Ensure that the country retail operations continuously delivers exceptional service, inspiring ambience and maintains high retail standards at all stores.
• Use data and market insights (traffic, demographics, category trends, competitor activity) to inform commercial decisions and store investment.
• Explore potential use of AI tools / platform with Group IT to improve productivity and process efficiency for the business.

Merchandising & Brand Partnerships

• Lead the strategic seasonal buy planning process for each brand to meet customer needs and achieve sell-through targets.
• Review and manage brand, vendor/supplier and tenancy agreements to secure favourable business terms.
• Develop collaborative partnerships across the wider Group to enhance business efficiency, revenue growth and brand affinity.
• Partner with Merchandising and relevant stakeholders to align wholesale assortment, pricing and order timelines with Kindred's brand positioning and seasonal calendar.
  

Marketing, CRM & Digital

• Ensure all marketing, CRM and communications align with brand values.
• Lead digital transformation and omnichannel initiatives that improve productivity, cost management, customer experience and revenue.

People & Culture

• Build, lead and develop high-performing teams across all functions (retail, merchandising, marketing, operations and support functions), including recruitment and performance management.
• Provide leadership guidance, development and coaching to team members, with particular focus on direct reports.
• Support a collaborative, performance-based culture that retains key talent and encourages professional development.

Governance

• Implement, review and improve internal business controls and processes.
• Ensure adherence to all country-specific regulatory requirements.
• Safeguard brand image and VM standards across all markets.
• Undertake ad-hoc projects as assigned by the Founder - COO.

Job Requirements

• Degree/Masters in Fashion, Retail Management, Brand Management or equivalent.
• Minimum 8 years in multi-store retail leadership, with strong commercial acumen and P&L ownership experience.
• Multi-country/regional exposure strongly preferred, particularly across Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
• Proven track record managing annual budgeting cycles, OTB, forecasting, inventory optimization and margin management.
• Proven experience managing wholesale and/or franchise channels
• Experience leading digital transformation/omnichannel initiatives.
• Ability to inspire large frontline teams with a hands-on floor presence.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with an outgoing, collaborative personality.