Buying And Merchandising Assistant

Role Overview

The Buying & Merchandising Manager will be responsible for driving commercial performance across one or more brands within the RBL portfolio through disciplined buying, sharp inventory management, and data-led planning. This role requires a strong command of retail metrics, a keen product sensibility, and the ability to work cross-functionally with Visual Merchandising, Store Operations, Logistics, and Brand teams. The incumbent will own sell-through outcomes, manage the Open-to-Buy framework, and ensure the right product is available in the right store at the right time.

Key Responsibilities

1. Sell-Through Management (Primary accountability)

• Drive and monitor sell-through achievement across all stores and channels on a weekly basis, with a target of achieving full-price sell-through benchmarks as per the business plan.
• Publish regular sell-through reports and conduct periodic reviews with store teams to identify and resolve issues impacting performance.
• Manage stock allocation for new shipments to stores based on buy plans, sales history, and store capacity.
• Execute weekly replenishments basis sales velocity, ensuring optimal stock availability across the network.
• Plan and implement consolidation of broken sizes and best-selling product replenishment to maximise conversion.
• Develop and execute end-of-season liquidation plans for excess or aged inventory in coordination with the Planning and VM teams.

2. Gross Margin & Pricing Management

• Own gross margin performance for assigned brands against the business plan, monitoring and reporting on variances regularly.
• Manage logistics cost against budget and identify opportunities for rationalisation.
• Oversee discounting strategy to protect and optimise gross margin across seasons and channels.
• Evaluate and manage local sourcing mix where applicable to improve margin outcomes.

3. Product Intelligence, OTB & Buying

• Lead seasonal buying prepare order sheets, review with the Product Head and Business Head, incorporate feedback, and submit orders to brand partners within stipulated timelines.
• Manage the Open-to-Buy (OTB) framework with a focus on the width and depth of buys, category-level allocation, and pricing architecture.
• Ensure timely completion of all Purchase Orders (POs) and Sales Orders (SOs) with full accuracy.
• Conduct end-of-season product performance reviews covering sell-through analysis, best sellers, worst sellers, and forward learnings.
• Deliver in-season product drop presentations to store teams prior to each launch window.
• Maintain structured archiving of season-wise product data for ongoing reference and future planning.

4. Inventory Management & Planning

• Manage category-level and size-level inventory performance versus OTB targets across all stores.
• Track and map pending receipts and coordinate proactively with the Logistics team to ensure timely stock delivery.
• Prepare weekly sales and stock reports, inventory projections, and Inter-Store Transfer (IST) plans to maintain balanced inventory across the network.
• Monitor style deliveries and track variances between the buy plan and actual receipts to inform future buying decisions.
• Develop and execute markdown and old inventory liquidation plans to reduce aged stock and recover working capital.

5. Business Reporting & Analysis

• Own the reporting cadence for the brand including daily, weekly, and monthly sales reports, category analyses, promotional performance reports, and international brand reports as required.
• Prepare and maintain the music sheet and quarterly sales targets in alignment with the business plan.
• Conduct floor feedback sessions with store teams on a monthly basis to gather qualitative product and operational insights.
• Deliver structured analysis and presentations to internal stakeholders and brand partners on a regular and ad-hoc basis.

6. Training & Development

• Prepare a seasonal product training manual for store teams covering new season range, key technologies, colour stories, and marketing styles.
• Collaborate with the Training department to deliver effective product training at the start of each season.
• Conduct induction training for new joiners covering fabric fundamentals and brand product knowledge.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: MBA or Post-Graduate Diploma in Retail Management, Fashion Management, or a related discipline from a reputed institution (preferred).
• Experience: 4–7 years of relevant experience in buying and/or planning, with demonstrated ownership of sell-through and inventory KPIs in a retail environment.
• Industry Background: Fashion, lifestyle, luxury retail, or specialty retail strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with a sound understanding of retail metrics — sell-through, gross margin, OTB, inventory turn, and markdown.
• Proficiency in retail planning tools, ERP systems, and advanced Excel / data reporting.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable buying and merchandising decisions.
• Good product sensibility and understanding of brand aesthetics and consumer preferences in the premium segment.
• Excellent planning, prioritisation, and time management skills — ability to work to tight seasonal deadlines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for effective engagement with brand partners and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple brands and product categories simultaneously.
• Collaborative approach to working cross-functionally with VM, Operations, Logistics, and Marketing teams.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work with some of the world's most iconic premium and luxury brands.
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial work environment within a large, established organisation.
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Performance-linked incentives.
• Learning and development opportunities across a diverse brand portfolio.
• Exposure to global brand teams and international buying and planning best practices.Role & responsibilities

Preferred candidate profile