Archetype recruits sales management, marketing and leadership roles for luxury houses and their distributors in Belgium: Retail Managers, Area Managers, wholesale leads, Marketing and CRM Managers, Country Managers. Our core business is sales, marketing and management profiles, which account for over 90% of our assignments. We work in French, Dutch and English, on a retainer basis, with an average placement time of 12 weeks and a 6-month replacement guarantee. We have been recruiting sales and leadership profiles since 1993.
A market where retail managers are getting scarce
Luxury in Belgium is sold in few places by few people: a handful of shopping streets in Brussels and Antwerp, department stores and selected multi-brand retailers. Every management role matters. In its 2026 shortage occupations list (in French), Forem, the Walloon employment service, adds store manager and sales manager, two occupations that were not on the 2025 list.
These figures cover all Walloon retail, not luxury alone, but they point to tension on these management roles: a good store manager is kept, and often has to be approached directly.
What a luxury sales leader has to manage
A luxury house sells few pieces to clients it knows. A Retail Manager is judged on sales, but also on client loyalty, average basket and how the store is run. A wholesale lead chooses retailers as much as sells to them. A Country Manager balances headquarters targets with a modest, bilingual Belgian market. In the KOAN model, we look first at Customer Orientation, Example to Others and Methods.
Roles in demand and languages required
- Retail Manager, Store Manager, Area Manager: see Sales Manager recruitment
- Wholesale lead or department store Key Account Manager
- Marketing, CRM or Clienteling Manager: see Marketing Manager recruitment
- Country Manager or subsidiary head: see Country Manager recruitment
International clientele means English on top of the local language in store; national and wholesale roles need French and Dutch.
Our principle of transparency is one of our core values: saying what needs to be said, even when it’s uncomfortable. In practice, that means we’ll tell you if your salary range is misaligned with the market. We’ll tell you if the candidate you’re set on raises a red flag on a critical point. We’ll tell you if the training you’re asking for won’t solve the problem you’re describing. Everyone says they value transparency; few accept its relational cost. We do.
Method, timing and fees
Every assignment follows five steps: briefing, sourcing strategy, structured screening, detailed presentation, and follow-up before, during and after the hire. The briefing asks the awkward questions: does the salary range hold against other houses, does the role have real local decision power? Expect 12 weeks on average. Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.
Selective beauty brands face similar issues: see our cosmetics recruitment page.
About Archetype
Archetype is a Belgian family business founded in 1993 by Marc Diamant and now co-managed with Davy Diamant and Steve Diamant. A member of Federgon, it won Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 for its ethical and structured use of AI.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a luxury retail manager?
Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.
How long does it take?
Twelve weeks on average, from signing the assignment to the candidate signing.
Do you recruit in-store sales associates or craftspeople?
No. Those roles are best handled by volume recruiters, temp agencies or the public employment services (Forem, VDAB, Actiris). We recruit sales management, marketing and leadership.
Can a mainstream retail manager move into luxury?
Yes, if the mindset fits. Sales technique is learnt quickly; the approach to service and brand takes much longer, and that is what to assess first.
Which languages do you work in?
French, Dutch and English: our recruitment team is trilingual.
Hiring a manager or leader for a luxury house in Belgium? Tell us about the role: our written proposal follows within 48 to 72 hours of the first call.
Discuss your hireSee all industriesMain page: Sector expertise built since 1993
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