Buyer / Senior Buyer Ladies Footwear and/or Bags.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Lead and manage the entire buying process across Ladies brands and product lines to ensure right and commercially viable product ranges, customer satisfaction, improvement on year-on-year sales, margins, and stock levels.
2. Inspire the buying team to think creatively to deliver newness in the product range.
3. Oversee category management to ensure maximization of sales and profitability.
4. Manage financial goals including pre-season plans, in-season projections, open-to-buy, etc. to support retail requirements while maintaining alignment with financial parameters.
5. Lead the process of aligning the merchandising planners with the OTB to ensure that the right assortment is delivered to the stores.
6. Oversee and guide the entire product creation process, ensuring alignment with key deliverables and milestones to meet specified factory deadlines.
7. Analyze and evaluate briefs, design tech packages, models, and samples, identifying potential concerns related to construction, materials, fit, or cost.
8. Manage relationships, facilitate reviews, oversee delivery, and secure approvals.
9. Provide valuable insights, suggestions, and information to ensure the timely delivery of quality products at the right cost.
10. Manage inventory, including stock loss mitigation, booked inventory budget, terminal stock, etc., to maintain optimum stock levels to meet retail requirements within financial parameters.
11. Manage centralized bulk buying, margins, markdowns, etc., and select vendor mix to optimize costs.
12. Analyze and monitor reports, MIS analytics, etc., based on actual sales, forecasts, inventory checks, replenishment needs, etc., to accurately forecast and meet business needs.
13. Analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats vis-à-vis competition and market conditions to identify business opportunities.
14. Establish and manage relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure financially beneficial partnerships through maximizing ranges, sales, profit margin, and delivery within budget.
15. Liaise with logistics to monitor supplier efficiency and effectiveness to identify potential risks and delays, taking appropriate remedial action.
16. Place orders and ensure merchandise is delivered on time and in line with service level agreements to ensure compliance with buying plans.
17. Drive motivation and employee engagement by focusing on people through mentoring and training to ensure a loyal and committed workforce.

Qualifications:

1. A total of 10-12 years of experience, with at least 6-8 years as a Buyer.
2. Proficiency in MS Excel.
3. Knowledge of footwear retail within the region.
4. Ability to visualize and anticipate the needs of the business.
5. Understanding of fashion, trends, market shifts, etc.
6. Knowledge of the buying process and practices, including multiple critical path management.

Company Industry:

• Retail

Department / Functional Area:

• Buying
• Purchase
• Procurement

Keywords:

• Senior Buyer