Assistant Manager - Sourcing (Apparel)

The Assistant Manager Merchandising will play a critical role in driving category performance through effective merchandise planning, inventory management, forecasting, assortment planning, and business analysis. The role requires a highly analytical, smart, and proactive professional who can translate trends and commercial insights into actionable merchandise strategies. The incumbent will work closely with Buying, Planning, Supply Chain, Store Operations, and Vendor Management teams to maximize sales, margins, stock productivity, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly sales plans for assigned categories while ensuring achievement of revenue, margin, and productivity targets.
• Prepare and manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) budgets and ensure alignment of inventory investments with business objectives.
• Develop detailed sales forecasts, stock plans, intake plans, and replenishment strategies based on historical performance and future demand projections.
• Collaborate with buyers to determine category assortment plans, purchase quantities, and seasonal merchandise strategies.
• Regularly review product performance and initiate corrective actions related to pricing, markdowns, replenishment, liquidation, or assortment changes.
• Monitor order placements, modifications, cancellations, and supplier commitments to ensure effective inventory flow and OTB compliance.
• Drive store-wise product allocation strategies to maximize sales and maintain optimum stock availability.
• Ensure effective product mix and space planning by analyzing store cluster performance and customer buying behavior.
• Support seasonal launches, new store openings, End of Season Sale (EOSS) activities, and promotional events.
• Track key merchandising KPIs include sell-through, stock turn, weeks of cover, GMROI, margins, and markdown performance.
• Generate and present daily, weekly, and monthly business performance reports to leadership teams.
• Partner with store operations teams to identify opportunities for improving category productivity and customer experience.
• Maintain strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, distributors, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely execution and delivery.
• Identify potential supply chain risks, production delays, and inventory challenges and proactively implement mitigation plans.
• Conduct competitor benchmarking, market intelligence studies, and trend analysis to ensure commercial competitiveness.

Candidate Profile

• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Excel and data interpretation.
• High commercial acumen with the ability to convert business insights into actionable plans.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and collaboration capabilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment with strong attention to detail.
• Self-driven, proactive, and solution-oriented approach to problem solving.