Merchandiser

Overview

The Merchandiser plays a crucial role in strategizing merchandising plans, analyzing sales and market trends, and collaborating with buyers, suppliers, and distributors to optimize pricing, quantities, and timelines. This role focuses on ensuring the brand meets its financial goals through meticulous planning and execution across multiple facets of merchandising.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with buyers to create departmental financial plans that consider market risks, fashion trends, and opportunities to achieve targeted net margins.
• Accurately forecast sales, stock, margins, markdowns, and intake plans by week for the brand, integrating historical data, future trends, and store expansions to maximize profitability with minimal risk.
• Maintain product availability throughout its lifecycle, managing timely re-buys and cancellations.
• Ensure a balanced product mix at all times and effectively apply exit strategies for products.
• Assess and determine space requirements per store grade to display optimal product ranges while maximizing returns per square foot.
• Strategize product options reflecting their potential sales, structuring buys to meet profitability goals with minimal risk.
• Plan assortment breadth and depth tailored to achieve planned sales targets per store.
• Phase sales and stock in alignment with ideal weekly trends and coordinate production schedules with suppliers to meet planned intake volumes.
• Work closely with Assistant Merchandisers and Buyers to maximize profitability per product option, managing availability and timely re-buys or cancellations.
• Monitor competitor activities and understand consumer buying behaviors regularly.
• Evaluate supplier performance annually in collaboration with QA and buying teams.
• Coordinate with vendors and marketing teams to support promotional initiatives.
• Stay current with fashion and retail trends to inform merchandising decisions.
• Oversee markdown management to optimize inventory costs.
• Manage recovery of penalties or contributions from suppliers related to performance or promotions.
• Develop team capabilities through targeted training, coaching, and performance management to ensure full potential realization of direct reports.

Qualifications and Skills

• Graduate or diploma holder in design, apparel merchandising, MBA (Marketing), or relevant certifications from institutions like NIFT or Pearl Academy.
• Strong analytical and numerical reasoning abilities.
• Effective presentation and sound financial acumen.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong learning abilities.
• Excellent planning, organizing, and team collaboration skills.
• Capable influencer with sound problem-solving and commercial awareness.
• Resilient and able to perform under pressure.

Preferred Industry Experience

Experience in textiles, garments, retail, export houses, or beauty sectors is advantageous.