Landmark Group - Senior Buyer - Category Management

Position Objective:

Develop strategic buying plans for the assigned department/category. Ensure smooth buying operations through vendor well defined pricing architecture, proper assortment planning, timely OTB utilization, vendor identification, evaluation and selection, in compliance with the contract principles to achieve the strategic and financial objectives of the concept.

Key Responsibilities:

Assortment Management - Buying Budget and Planning

- Determine buying requirements and formulate assortment plan/range plan to finalize the budget for the assigned department/category

- Align the buying plan to the overall department/category business plan and the merchandize strategy as laid down by the department/ category manager

- Define pricing architecture and ensure pricing architecture driven assortment at a territory level

- Conduct timely & regular ranking exercise to execute proper item lifecycle management

- Implement proper store grading in order to ensure that we have the right assortment for the right territory at the right price point and UDA

- Help meet the profit targets by ensuring timely procurement of the department/category Merchandise

- Pursue cost reduction measures through centralized bulk buying and/or selecting appropriate vendor mix, scanning the environment for benchmarks and constantly improving the purchase process

- Drive customer focused merchandise plans (pricing, promotion, assortment etc.) for the department to achieve sales and market share growth, and freeze associated plan with Merchandise Planning department

- Study trends from historical data around product category sales and market research to assist in the overall planning process

- Ensure adherence to financial plan in all key areas - sales, markdowns, margin & average inventory

OTB Management

- Regularly review the subclass and territory wise OTB to ensure timely ordering

- Manage OTB as per the defined assortment/range plan by ensuring availability of core lines, timely infusion of new lines, proactively discounting poor sellers and progressive ageing clearance

- Forecast the M-o-M sales, gross margin, sales contribution at a territory and subclass level to ensure right territory and subclass wise OTB

Customer and Competition research

- Regularly conduct store visits, competition visits and trend analysis

- Ensure optimum utilization of customer and market research information to guide department decisions on the introduction of new products, product assortment, shelf layout, promotion and pricing of products in the store

- Keep abreast of the latest trends in buying and discuss the same with the department/category Manager from time to time to assess realignment of existing processes

- Map competition prices / products and provide qualitative inputs to the business

- Gather information from Industry trade groups or through trade shows/market visits

Vendor Management

- Develop an adequate vendor base for the concept through active scouting and negotiation / renegotiation

- Build and maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers and negotiate the best deals with them for procuring merchandise

- Maintain contact with vendors; update list of vendors for bidding purposes; attend product demonstrations, obtain samples and literature regarding potential products and vendor capabilities and confer with end users

- Identify, evaluate and select appropriate vendor mix to achieve business objectives by conducting factory assessment, sourcing trips and contract negotiations

- Identify and leverage alternate buying opportunities to source products & ensure that company maintains its competitive edge

- Ensure effective communication, collation and follow-up on various product requirements and findings obtained from the sales/store data

Order Management

- Place orders based on the buying plan & ensure merchandise is delivered as per the plan based on the agreed service level agreement

- Implement financial and credit services agreement with the vendor that maximize profit and positively contribute to cash flow

- Track the merchandise transportation from supplier to landmark distribution centre and ensure smooth flow of goods

- Follow the reverse logistics guidelines to send the faulty / damaged goods back to the vendor

Cross Functional Collaboration

- Actively participated in the commercial coordination with different departments especially for the shop the look initiatives

- Liaise with VM team to identify changes/improvements in store display and communication.

JOB SPECIFICATION:

- Post Graduate for top tier colleges.

- 3-6 years relevant experience of which candidate should have been in the retail industry (preferably Home Furnishing in a buying role).

- Good Knowledge of Buying processes

- Good Knowledge of Retail brands

- Planning and organizing skills

- Networking skills

- Negotiation skills

- Attention to detail