Objective:
This position is responsible for ensuring effective brand positioning through strategic product selection that aligns with the target customer profile, while achieving gross margin goals and maintaining a healthy sell-through rate of 60% or higher.
Key Responsibilities:
Product Range:
- Support the development of brand strategies by understanding customer profiles and market positioning
- Plan category assortments based on historical performance, market trends, and future potential
- Establish seasonal purchase strategies in collaboration with the planning team, using data-driven insights
- Grade stores by format and country to differentiate product mixes for high-end and value-driven locations
- Develop procurement strategies for seasonal sales, grounded in product performance history
- Create pricing plans using perceptual pricing and market benchmarking
- Coordinate direct procurement with brand principals
Order Management:
- Raise purchase orders in line with the buying plan to ensure on-time deliveries per SLAs
- Monitor in-transit inventory to ensure smooth supply chain movement from supplier to warehouse
Vendor Management:
- Establish and sustain long-term relationships with suppliers to ensure fair deals.
- Ensure on-time delivery of products and adhere to compliance with the contracts of purchase.
Store Management:
- Visit stores to ensure proper store display of product categories and to understand performing and non-performing goods
- Visit competitor stores to understand bench marking, and for inspiration
- Maintain weeks of cover, monitor stock levels, and plan purchases within budget
- Coach the store staff to gather product feedback and customer feedback on basic and key offerings ensuring growth and development
Competition Knowledge
- Stay up-to-date with local and global markets, as well as industry trends
- Be aware of competing brands and products’ activities
Key KPIs:
Quantitative KPI
- Gross margin target
- Sell through target
- Exclusive and NOS Business
- Week of cover for particular category
- Stock Ageing and Stock Turn
- Trend/Buy presentation
- Product training
Qualitative KPI
- Understand market trend
- Able to grasp business requirement
- Influence brand to customize requirement
Desired Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or a related field from a recognized institute.
- 2–3 years of relevant retail buying experience.
- Proficient in MS Excel and PowerPoint.
- Strong understanding of product strategy, vendor management, assortment planning, and trend analysis.
- Knowledge of market research, data analysis, and forecasting techniques.