Assistant Manager Buying

Key Responsibilities1. Category BuyingDevelop the seasonal and annual buying strategy for Bags & Accessories in line with brand positioning and business objectives.Analyse market trends, fashion directions, customer preferences and competitor offerings to identify new product opportunities.Build and maintain the category assortment across EBO, SIS and other relevant channels.Finalise product assortment based on category performance, price architecture, customer profile and store/channel requirements.Work with Design/Sourcing teams to develop commercially viable products and collections.Conduct regular competitor and market analysis on product, price, assortment, promotions and newness.Ensure the right balance of core, fashion, seasonal and trend-led products.2. Merchandise PlanningPrepare seasonal, monthly and category-level sales and inventory plans.Develop OTB (Open-to-Buy) plans based on sales targets, stock requirements and inventory budgets.Plan category-wise option count, depth, size/colour mix and store/channel allocation.Set sales, margin, stock and sell-through targets for the category.Monitor actual performance against plan and identify gaps and corrective actions.Plan stock requirements considering seasonality, launches, promotions and business growth.3. Inventory & Stock ManagementMaintain optimum inventory levels and ensure healthy stock cover and stock productivity.Monitor sell-through, stock turn, ageing, WOS/stock cover and OOS on a regular basis.Identify slow-moving and non-performing products and recommend appropriate actions.Ensure timely replenishment of fast-moving/core products.Plan markdowns, promotions and liquidation strategies in coordination with the relevant teams.Minimise excess, aged and obsolete inventory while maintaining adequate availability.4. Business & Commercial ManagementOwn category performance against Sales, Gross Margin, Sell-Through, Stock Turn and Inventory targets.Analyse category profitability and identify opportunities to improve margins.Monitor full-price sell-through vs. discounted sales.Evaluate product performance and make data-driven decisions on repeat, drop, increase or reduce quantities.Ensure buying decisions are aligned with the company's price architecture and margin strategy.Prepare regular business reviews and present category insights to management.5. Store & Channel PlanningDevelop differentiated assortments based on store cluster, geography, customer profile and channel potential.Plan initial allocation and replenishment requirements.Analyse store-level performance to identify assortment gaps and opportunities.Partner with Sales and Operations teams to improve availability and category productivity.Ensure effective launch planning for new collections and products.6. Cross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with Design, Sourcing, Production, Sales, Marketing, VM, Finance and Operations.Coordinate with Sourcing on product costing, lead times, MOQ and delivery schedules.Collaborate with VM to ensure product presentation supports the category strategy.Work with Marketing on campaign and promotional requirements.Partner with Finance to ensure buying remains within approved budgets and financial parameters.Candidate ProfileExperience: 5–10 years in Buying, Merchandise Planning or Category Management, preferably within bags or accessories retail.Strong understanding of fashion retail buying and merchandise planning.Good knowledge of category management, assortment planning, OTB and inventory planning.Strong analytical and commercial orientation.Good understanding of sales, margin, sell-through, stock turn, ageing and markdowns.Strong negotiation and vendor/sourcing coordination skills.Proficiency in MS Excel and merchandise planning/ERP systems.Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.Ability to balance fashion sensitivity with commercial and data-driven decision-making.