Buyer

Role Overview

The Buyer will manage all merchandise purchase activities and vendor coordination for assigned departments, ensuring the selection of cost-effective, high-quality products aligned with brand standards.

Core Responsibilities

• Contribute to and align with divisional buying and merchandising strategies.
• Collaborate with merchandising teams to ensure purchase order fulfillment.
• Research upcoming customer preferences and technological trends to anticipate future product offerings.
• Develop pricing strategies in partnership with marketing and management to negotiate optimal supplier pricing.
• Source and develop appropriate products timely to satisfy customer needs.
• Maximize existing sourcing channels while identifying new sourcing opportunities.
• Support negotiation processes to secure favorable costs and margins with suppliers.
• Coordinate closely with designers on style development, including research trips, fabric and print guidance, and identifying top-selling styles.
• Work with merchandising on stock control, style choices, quantities, promotions, and markdowns.
• Monitor competitors’ activities through market research to gauge trends in colors, fabrics, and forecasting.
• Oversee product presentation, packaging, product development, and promotional planning.
• Review and adjust seasonal and weekly purchasing plans.
• Identify and develop vendors effectively.
• Negotiate and obtain range merchandise successfully.
• Collaborate with marketing and design teams for visual merchandising promotions aligned with themes and product launches.
• Ensure vendors deliver samples punctually.
• Set merchandise quality standards in coordination with QA.
• Align merchandise plans with store and departmental financial targets.
• Conduct annual supplier performance reviews with QA.
• Recover money due from vendors related to penalties or promotional contributions.
• Regularly update front-end teams about key product advantages.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achieving budget targets, effective inventory management, and sell-through rates.
• Ensuring timely merchandise delivery and matching range planning with availability on the sales floor.
• Vendor development and management excellence.

Qualifications and Experience

• 6 to 8 years of relevant experience.
• Graduate or diploma holder in design/apparel merchandising, preferably from NIFT (GMT/FD/Textile/KDT/D&D) or Pearl Academy (IFTP).

Preferred Competencies

• Strong presentation and financial acumen.
• Effective communication and negotiation capabilities.
• Customer-focused with leadership and influencing skills.
• Competent in planning, organizing, problem-solving, and team collaboration.
• Innovative and well-versed in current trends, styles, colors, and the Indian market preferences.

Industry Preference

Experience in Textile, Garment, Retail, or Export sectors is advantageous.