Merchandise Manager for Innerwear and Activewear

About the Role

The Merchandise Manager oversees the approval and control of the purchasing and merchandise buying function within limits of delegated authority; investigates new developments relative to materials, supplies, and services; makes recommendations designed to reduce costs and improve quality.

Responsibilities

Managing:

• Act as the primary filter between Merchandising and Product Development to ensure that design supports customer and business needs while remaining innovative.
• Manages the alignment of product assortment for the categories of Intimate Wear and Active Wear.
• Manages the department's price position within the competitive landscape and formulate pricing strategies in keeping with the brand's image and market.
• Ensure efficient management of the buying budget including the processes of Purchase Orders in compliance with the budget.
• Manages the Cost of Goods, Inventory targets and pre-production samples.
• Maintain adherence to established Merchandising business processes and to company policies and guidelines.

Project Champion:

• Make program plans; Organize work schedules, timelines and monitoring of accomplishments.
• Modify strategies where needed and provide appropriate and timely direction to the team in response to changing trends.

Planning:

• Lead the Merchandising team in brainstorming for developing fashion trends and in identifying the merchandise handle for the season.
• Sets the direction of the business, looking at growth areas and business opportunities.
• Implement cost-effective, efficient and realistic plans.
• Work with the Inventory Planning and Allocation Group (IPA) in developing the Open-to-Buy/buying budget.
• Review merchandise assortment per season to ensure the best possible combination of designs leading to a well-balanced stock.

Buying:

• Selection of merchandise during the planning that is commercially viable, timely and in keeping with the brand's image, market and pricing structure.
• Ensure that prices meet the required percentage mark-up to achieve desired profitability.
• Helps in sourcing out new, reliable vendors and conducts factory visits whenever the need arises.

People Management:

• Provides leadership to team members to work cooperatively and to remain focused on the vision.
• Grow and challenge high potential employees through stretch assignments while acting quickly on employees whose work consistently falls below the company's standards.
• Manages the team members effectively towards the accomplishment of tasks and goals.
• Conduct regular evaluation of job performance among the members of the team and processes disciplinary measures whenever necessary.

Collaboration with Different teams:

• Partner with cross-functional team members in developing key marketing concepts, promotional strategies and store displays to provide exciting customer store experience.
• Work and coordinate closely with all groups involved in the development and delivery of our products to the stores.
• Coordinate with and support Marketing Communications in staging promotional events (i.e. fashion shows and pictorials).

Research:

• Gather information to identify business opportunities and risks.
• Monitor competitor activities through networking and maintains up-to-date industry information.
• Conduct product research on latest fashion trends thru all possible sources.
• Understand consumer needs and behavior through research, regular interaction with store personnel and consultations with different stakeholders.
• Monitor product sell-through to determine progress/movement of established product lines and new products.
• Monitor sales achievement vs. planned sales so that adjustments on the buying budget can be made, if necessary.

Qualifications:

Education details:

Graduate of Fine Arts, Advertising, Industrial Design, Clothing Technology, Fashion and Merchandising, Textile and Garments Technology, or other fashion-related course

KNOWLEDGE

1. Possess comprehensive knowledge in basic Merchandising principles.
2. Knowledge on basic design principles and sufficient experience in product development and production processes.
3. Possess a clear understanding of financial measurements and how to impact them.
4. Has knowledge and understanding of the brand and its target market.

SKILLS

1. Excellent leadership and people-handling skills.
2. Possess a highly entrepreneurial spirit and excellent business management skills.
3. Possess strong presentation, listening, verbal and written communication skills.
4. Excellent ability to merchandise line and assort collection with strong negotiation skills.
5. Possess computer literacy and facility with Microsoft Office, Word and Excel
6. Excellent analytical, verbal, and written skills

ATTITUDE:

1. Honest and trustworthy – integrity in every aspect related to the job
2. Committed and dedicated – willingness to invest time and effort in doing one's job
3. Highly innovative, creative and resourceful, motivated
4. Independent and self-reliant
5. Team player
6. Flexible and adaptive to change (both external and internal)