Job Title: Senior Buyer (Apparel)
Location: Head Office (Gurugram)
Position Type: Full-Time
Department: Buying and Merchandising
About Us: We are a leading value retail organization in the apparel industry in India, known for offering high-quality products at competitive prices. With a strong presence in the market, we aim to provide fashion-forward, affordable options to our customers. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Senior Buyer to join our dynamic team.
Job Overview: We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Buyer to oversee the buying and merchandising functions for our apparel range. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in buying, merchandising, fabric knowledge, and costing, with significant experience working with export houses, brands, or value retail companies. The role involves sourcing and managing vendors, ensuring product quality, and optimizing cost efficiencies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Buying & Merchandising:
- Lead the buying strategy to ensure alignment with market trends, customer preferences, and company goals.
- Develop and manage the seasonal product assortment, considering customer demands, market insights, and financial targets.
- Ensure a balanced and profitable product range by working closely with merchandising and planning teams.
- Negotiate prices, terms, and agreements with vendors to ensure competitive pricing while maintaining margins.
- Fabric and Costing Expertise:
- Oversee fabric selection, ensuring the materials are aligned with current trends, customer preferences, and quality standards.
- Analyze fabric costs and negotiate with suppliers to ensure cost-effective solutions without compromising on product quality.
- Manage the entire costing process from fabric sourcing to final garment production, ensuring profitability for each product.
- Sourcing & Vendor Management:
- Identify and onboard new suppliers and vendors in line with the brand’s quality and cost requirements.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and vendors to ensure timely deliveries and consistency in product quality.
- Regularly evaluate vendor performance and conduct quality checks, negotiating improvements where necessary.
- Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination:
- Collaborate with the supply chain team to ensure timely procurement and delivery of goods.
- Optimize stock levels to ensure the right balance between supply and demand while reducing overstock and stockouts.
- Market & Trend Analysis:
- Conduct thorough market research and competitor analysis to stay updated on industry trends, customer preferences, and pricing strategies.
- Provide actionable insights to the merchandising and marketing teams to optimize the product offering.
- Team Collaboration & Reporting:
- Work closely with cross-functional teams including merchandising, planning, supply chain, and marketing to ensure smooth execution of buying and merchandising strategies.
- Provide regular performance reports on buying, sourcing, and vendor management to senior management.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising, Textile Management, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree is a plus).
- Minimum of 10+ years of experience in buying and merchandising in the apparel industry, preferably in export houses, brand retail, or value retail.
- Strong expertise in fabric selection, costing, sourcing, and vendor management.
- Deep understanding of current fashion trends, customer behaviour, and market demands.
- Proven ability to manage vendor relationships, negotiate pricing, and manage product assortment.
- Strong analytical skills, with experience in product costing, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and any merchandising software.