Assistant Buyer

Objective:

The position is responsible for assisting in category planning, vendor coordination, and inventory monitoring to help achieve gross margin goals and maintain a healthy sell-through rate of 60% or above.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Range Support:

- Assist in the development of brand strategy through research and analysis of target customers and market positioning.
- Support category planning activities by analyzing performance, trends, and sales potential.
- Contribute to the seasonal purchase strategy by leveraging reports and historical data shared by the planning/merchandising teams.
- Participate in store grading to align product assortments across diverse store types (e.g., premium vs. value-focused).
- Assist in developing procurement strategies for seasonal sales using historical product performance.
- Support pricing decisions through competitive benchmarking and market intelligence.
- Coordinate with principals and suppliers for procurement under the guidance of the Buyer.

Order Management:

- Prepare and track procurement orders to ensure timely delivery in line with service level agreements and purchase plans.
- Monitor in-transit inventory to ensure smooth stock movement from supplier to warehouse.

Vendor Coordination:

- Support the Buyer in maintaining strong supplier relationships to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant deliveries.
- Follow up on supplier performance, delivery timelines, and contractual adherence.

Store & Visual Merchandising:

- Conduct store visits to monitor product displays and gather insights on product performance.
- Visit competitor stores for benchmarking and trend inspiration.
- Track stock levels and weeks of cover, raising alerts when stock adjustments are needed.
- Collaborate with store staff to collect feedback on customer preferences and product performance.

Market & Competition Awareness:

- Stay updated on fashion trends and evolving customer preferences in local and international markets.
- Track competitor activities, product offerings, and pricing strategies to support informed buying decisions.

Desired Experience:

- Minimum 2 years of experience in retail or merchandising, preferably within a fashion or lifestyle brand.
- Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and basic ERP systems.
- Understanding of product strategy, vendor coordination, range planning, and trend analysis.
- Familiarity with market research, sales data interpretation, and forecasting techniques.
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or a related field from a recognized institution.