Assistant Buyer

Role Overview

This position sits within the buying function and supports the division’s merchandising and sourcing plans. The role is focused on selecting the right products, securing competitive terms from vendors, and ensuring that assortment, stock flow, and product launches align with customer demand and business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the divisional buying and merchandising strategy and ensure day-to-day work remains aligned with it.
• Coordinate with the merchandising team so that deliveries match the purchase orders raised for them.
• Research customer preferences and upcoming technology or market movements to identify future product opportunities.
• Work with the marketing team and management on pricing plans for different product lines and help arrive at supplier terms that support strong pricing.
• Source products that meet customer needs at the right time and in the right range.
• Use existing sourcing channels effectively while also finding new sourcing opportunities.
• Assist with supplier negotiations and work with the supply base to secure the best possible costs and margins.
• Partner with designers on style development, including research trips, fabric and print guidance, and identifying successful styles for further development.
• Work closely with merchandising teams on stock planning, style options, quantities, promotions, and markdown decisions.
• Monitor competitor activity through market research and use the findings to understand trends and forecast colours, fabrics, and related direction.
• Support product presentation, packaging, product development, and promotional planning.
• Review and refine seasonal plans as well as weekly plans.
• Help with vendor identification and vendor development.
• Obtain range merchandise through effective negotiation.
• Coordinate with marketing and design teams to create visual merchandising promotions that fit the theme and product launch calendar.
• Ensure vendors deliver samples on time.
• Set quality standards for merchandise in coordination with QA.
• Reconcile store plans and help prepare departmental financial plans.
• Conduct annual supplier performance reviews with QA.
• Follow up on and recover amounts owed by vendors due to performance penalties and markdown or promotional contributions.
• Keep the front-end team updated on important product benefits.

Experience

The role requires 1 to 3 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a graduate or diploma qualification in design or apparel merchandising. Accepted institute backgrounds mentioned include NIFT (GMT/FD/Textile/KDT/D&D) and Pearl Academy (IFTP).

Work Location

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.