Manager - Buying and Merchandising

Apparel · United Arab Emirates

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Key Responsibility:

Buying & Assortment Planning

Plan and finalize seasonal product ranges based on market trends, historical sales, and brand strategy.
Develop assortment strategies that align with sales targets, gross margin plans, and customer expectations.
Execute the seasonal buying calendar, including product selection, vendor negotiations, and purchase order placement.
Collaborate with vendors on pricing, lead times, and delivery schedules to ensure cost efficiency and timely availability.
Manage OTB in partnership with the planning team to optimize inventory investments across categories.

Merchandising & Execution

Coordinate initial product allocations and replenishment strategies to ensure a balanced merchandise mix at store level.
Ensure effective in-season management through WSSI tracking, stock balancing, and markdown planning.
Monitor product lifecycle by analyzing bestsellers and slow movers and take corrective action accordingly.
Work closely with Visual Merchandising and Marketing teams to support seasonal campaigns and product storytelling in-store.
Ensure compliance with brand guidelines in product selection, pricing architecture, and merchandising presentation.

Performance Management

Review and analyze weekly sales performance at style, category, and store level against business targets.
Drive sell-through and margin performance through in-season stock adjustments, markdowns, and promotional activities.
Track ageing inventory and execute phase-wise markdowns to maintain healthy stock turnover.
Conduct regular market visits and competitive benchmarking to identify assortment gaps and consumer trends.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

Liaise with Planning, Operations, Logistics, and Finance teams to ensure end-to-end merchandise flow and store readiness.
Coordinate with store teams for feedback on product performance and customer response.
Engage with Brand Managers and Principals to align buying strategies with brand vision and commercial objectives.
Contribute to training initiatives by providing seasonal product insights and trend updates to front-end teams.

Desired Experience:

6-8 years of progressive experience in retail buying and merchandising, including OTB planning and in-season projections.
Proven success in driving high level cross functional collaboration, enhancing customer engagement, and achieving & exceeding sales KPI targets for stores.
Strong analytical skills with experience in forecasting, performance reporting, and market trend analysis.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

This position is responsible to plan and execute the buying and merchandising strategy across assigned categories, ensuring the right product mix, pricing, and stock availability in line with customer demand, brand positioning, and financial targets. The role is responsible for managing seasonal assortments, vendor relationships, and in-store execution to maximize sales, sell-through, and margin performance across the region.

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