Buyer

POSITION OVERVIEWThe Buyer builds and manages the product range for the ELC and The Entertainer estate across the UAE and Qatar. The role decides what we sell, who we buy it from, what we pay and what we sell it for, with the aim of giving customers a range they want at the right price while delivering the sales and margin the business needs.Buying at ALGT is different from buying at a standalone retailer. The range is built from four supply routes, each with its own terms, lead times and rules:1. TEAL (The Entertainer UK): ELC and Addo own-brand products, ordered through the TEAL wholesale team under the franchise agreement2. ALGT distribution: the brands ALGT already distributes in the region, bought internally from the ALGT distribution team3. China direct sourcing: product sourced directly from factories, from sampling and negotiation through to quality checks, shipping and landed cost4. Local suppliers: UAE and Qatar distributors, agents and specialist suppliers that fill gaps in the range and respond to local demandThe Buyer is responsible for balancing these routes into one coherent, profitable range for each store, while protecting the ELC and The Entertainer brands and meeting all regional product safety rules.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESRange planning and category management

• Build seasonal range plans for each category, balancing the four supply routes against customer demand, margin and available space
• Maintain one OnePager range document for the business, so every store follows the same core range, with ELC flash lines as the minimum
• Create and maintain a store grading system so each store receives the right depth and breadth of range for its size, format and customer
• Manage the SKU count: introduce new lines, review performance and exit slow or unprofitable lines in a planned way, before they become aged stock
• Set up and maintain the product hierarchy in CUBES, making sure every item is set up correctly with accurate descriptions, barcodes, costs, prices and supplier details
• Track market trends, licences, competitor ranges and pricing (including Toystation, hypermarkets and online) and act on themTEAL: ELC and Addo
• Plan, forecast and place ELC and Addo orders through the TEAL wholesale team, working to TEAL order windows and lead times
• Make sure core ELC and Addo ranges are carried in line with the franchise agreement and brand standards
• Share sales performance, local market feedback and range requests with the TEAL wholesale team
• Follow TEAL guidance on product launches, recalls, pricing structure and brand presentationALGT distribution brands
• Select the right lines from the brands ALGT distributes and agree allocation, transfer cost and availability with the ALGT distribution team
• Make sure retail is supplied fairly alongside ALGT's wholesale customers, and flag availability risks early
• Use the distribution team's market knowledge and supplier relationships to secure launches, exclusives and promotional support for our storesChina direct sourcing
• Identify, assess and manage factories and trading companies for direct sourced product
• Manage the full sourcing process: brief, samples, costing, negotiation, purchase order, pre-production approval, production and shipment
• Calculate accurate landed cost for every line, including product cost, freight, insurance, customs duty and local charges, before committing to an order
• Arrange product testing, certification and pre-shipment quality inspection, and hold suppliers to account for faults
• Make sure direct sourced product does not copy or closely resemble any ELC, Addo or The Entertainer design, logo or trade mark, or any other brand's protected design, and refer anything doubtful to the General Manager before ordering
• Attend overseas trade fairs (for example Hong Kong and Canton) to source new product and suppliersLocal suppliers
• Build and manage relationships with local distributors and suppliers in the UAE and Qatar
• Negotiate buying terms: cost price, minimum order quantities, delivery, payment terms, returns, rebates and marketing support
• Manage trials and concession or sale-or-return arrangements, with clear terms, review dates and exit criteria agreed before launch
• Make sure all local suppliers are set up through Finance with the correct trade licence, VAT and bank detailsPricing, promotions and margin
• Set retail prices in line with the pricing structure agreed with TEAL and the General Manager, with separate AED and QAR price files
• Plan promotions with the Retail Marketing Manager, making sure stock is bought and allocated before each promotion starts
• Approve price matches above store authority limits under the Price Matching Policy
• Plan and approve markdowns and clearance for aged and discontinued stock, to protect margin and free up space
• Manage gross margin by category and report it monthlyStock, budgets and allocation
• Manage the open-to-buy budget for each category, buying within budget and adjusting orders to sales trends
• Forecast demand for each supply route, allowing for long lead times on direct sourced and TEAL product
• Work with stock allocation and the warehouse to plan initial allocations, replenishment and stock transfers between stores
• Monitor stock cover, availability of best sellers and aged stock, and act quickly on gaps or overstocks
• Plan opening ranges and stock for new stores, relocations and refits with the Project ManagerProduct compliance and quality
• Make sure every product sold meets UAE and Qatar product safety and conformity requirements, including toy safety certification, age warnings and Arabic labelling, before it is sold
• Keep certificates, test reports and supplier declarations on file for every line
• Lead product recalls and withdrawals quickly and completely, working with operations and suppliers
• Monitor faulty and damaged returns by product and supplier, and recover costs from suppliers where possibleReporting and communication
• Report weekly on sales, margin and stock by category and supply route
• Use the weekly Top 50 report to spot opportunities and problems by store and act on them
• Brief stores clearly and in plain English on new ranges, key lines and price changes, working with Area Managers
• Attend the monthly management review and report on the buying section of the plan
• Visit stores regularly to check range, availability and presentation, and listen to customer feedback from store teams