Junior Buyer- Home Furnishings

Role Summary

Drive sales and category growth for the assigned Soft Furnishings category by developing and buying the right product

assortment, ensuring the right product mix, price points, quality, margins and inventory availability at the right time.

The role will support the end-to-end buying process across categories such as Bed Linen, Bath Linen, Cushions, Curtains,

Rugs, Throws and other Soft Furnishing products, while ensuring alignment with customer needs, market trends, seasonal

direction and business objectives.

– Key Job Responsibilities

1. Product Planning & Range Development

Track and understand prevailing trends in home furnishings, textiles, colours, prints, materials and design across

domestic and international markets.

Translate market and customer insights into relevant product and range opportunities for the assigned category.

Support the development of seasonal and annual category plans in line with sales, margin and inventory targets.

Build a balanced assortment across product categories, price points, styles, colours, sizes and designs.

Work closely with Design, Quality and Planning teams to develop commercially relevant and customer-focused

ranges.

Ensure the product range is aligned with the overall category strategy and customer profile.

Prepare and present range proposals to relevant stakeholders at defined intervals.

Identify gaps in the existing assortment and recommend new product opportunities.

2. Buying & Vendor Management

Initiate buying in line with the approved OTB and seasonal buying calendar.

Ensure timely placement of purchase orders and re-orders.

Follow up with vendors on product development, samples, costing, approvals, production timelines and deliveries.

Support cost negotiations to achieve target margins while maintaining required product quality and specifications.

Manage the end-to-end purchase order process including PO creation, confirmations, inspections, shipments and

deliveries.

Work with vendors to ensure consistency in product quality, colours, construction, packaging and finishing.

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with existing and potential vendors.

Monitor vendor performance with respect to quality, delivery timelines, pricing and responsiveness.

3. Product Development & Quality

Coordinate with Design and Quality teams for product development and specification finalization.

Ensure products meet defined quality, safety, functionality and packaging requirements.

Review samples and provide feedback on product construction, fabric, colour, print, finish and overall commercial

appeal.

Support development of product specifications, packaging requirements and product information.

Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve product quality or production-related issues.

Ensure product claims and customer feedback are tracked and addressed with relevant teams and vendors.

4. Inventory & Stock Management

Support planning of optimum inventory levels across the assigned category.

Monitor stock availability and ensure timely replenishment of best-performing products.

Track stock movement, sell-through and replenishment requirements.

Monitor slow-moving and ageing inventory and recommend appropriate corrective actions.

Support the management of NOD, OTB and inventory norms.

Ensure orders and re-orders are aligned with sales trends, financial norms and stock requirements.

Define appropriate pack sizes, minimum order quantities and carton quantities in coordination with Planning and

Supply Chain teams.

5. Product Presentation & Store Execution

Ensure timely implementation of approved planograms and category layouts.

Work with VM, Design and Retail teams to ensure the product range is presented effectively on the sales floor.

Coordinate product availability for catalogue, marketing campaigns and photo shoots.

Ensure products featured in catalogues and campaigns are adequately available in stores.

Support the preparation of product information, FABs and training material for store teams.

Conduct store visits to understand product presentation, stock availability and customer response.

6. Product Performance & Market Analysis

Track category and product performance after launch and recommend required actions.

Analyze sales, sell-through, margin, stock holding and inventory ageing reports.

Regularly collect and analyse product feedback from stores, customers and retail teams.

Conduct competition mapping and market visits to understand pricing, assortment and product trends.

Identify opportunities for range improvement, product rationalization and new product development.

Monitor category performance against sales, margin and inventory targets.

7. Cross-Functional Coordination

Work closely with Planning, Design, Quality, VM, Marketing, Retail and Supply Chain teams.

Ensure smooth communication and timely execution of buying and seasonal calendars.

Coordinate with internal stakeholders for timely resolution of product, supply and inventory-related issues.

Support range reviews, seasonal presentations and category business reviews.

Build strong internal relationships to ensure seamless execution of business processes.