Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. Hiring for Assistant Buyer- Women’s Wear (Galeries Lafayette) at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Full Time

Job Purpose:

To assist the Buying Manager (Women’s Wear) to maintain a balanced merchandise

assortment for the Galeries Lafayette India stores based on luxury market trends & consumer

preference, while upholding GL’s brand image. The ideal merchandise mix for GL luxury retail

stores based on exclusivity & brand identity should complement the superior customer service to

maximize full price sell-through at stores and strengthen clientele relationships.

Key Result Areas:

1) Assisting Buyer in the selecting & sourcing of Merchandise assortment/mix for GL stores-

• Collaborate closely with the Buying Manager (Women’s Wear) to develop a well-balanced assortment of women’s fashion products, considering factors like style, size, color, and price range.

• Conduct thorough market research and trend analysis to identify emerging fashion trends and customer preferences, ensuring the assortment remains current and attractive to the Indian Luxury market.

• Work with the Buying Manager to set assortment goals, making data-driven decisions to select brands and products that align with the store’s luxury image and the Indian market’s unique tastes.

• Monitor the assortment’s performance regularly, assessing sales data and customer feedback to identify top-performing and underperforming items and categories.

• Ensure that the assortment caters to a wide range of customer preferences while maintaining a cohesive and appealing presentation on the sales floor.

• Create appropriate buying plan for assigned category as per Sales targets for GL stores – Updating Order Master.

• Create Purchase Orders (POs), review Order Confirmation (OCs) and track the progress of orders to ensure on-time delivery.

• Creating in season express orders on a need basis.

• Set ARP targets for product categories

• Create Option plan and conduct depth analysis

• Formulate Stock to Sale plan for a season – EOM / BOM

• OTB calculation

2) Collaborating with brands-

• Establish and cultivate strong relationships with vendors, including international and local fashion brands, negotiating favorable terms & prices, payment schedules, and delivery terms to enhance profitability – Order Confirmation Management.

• Collaborate with vendors to select merchandise that adheres to quality standards, exclusivity, and ethical sourcing practices.

• Monitor vendor/brand performance, addressing any supply chain issues or discrepancies in a timely manner to maintain consistent product availability.

• Coordinate with vendors/brands to secure exclusive collections or limited-edition items to differentiate the store’s offerings in the market.

• Stay informed about market trends, innovations, and conditions, ensuring the selection of brands/vendors that align with the store’s luxury brand image.

3) Tracking Stock Management-

• Plan, monitor & maintain Ideal stock cover for each product category in stores.

• Plan for inter-store transfers to achieve maximum value (AMM).

• Fill rate management.

• Ensure timely online availability of stock.

• Dormancy within specified norms

• Pullback within specified norms

• Create sell thru reports on Excel on weekly basis

• Photo Sell Through report

4) Inventory Management-

• Monitor inventory levels for the women’s wear category, ensuring an optimal balance between supply and demand.

• Analyze sales data, including sell-through rates and stock turnover, to make informed decisions about replenishments and restocking.

• Implement inventory optimization strategies to reduce excess inventory, minimize stockouts, and control holding costs.

• Collaborate with the Planning Team to align inventory management practices with overall merchandise planning and demand forecasting.

• Work with the Senior Buyer to make markdown and clearance decisions for slow-moving or seasonal items to maintain profitability.

5) Pricing Strategy-

• Assist in developing pricing strategies that balance competitiveness with maintaining the luxury image of the store’s women’s wear category.

• Monitor price elasticity and conduct pricing analysis to determine optimal price points for different product segments.

• Collaborate with the Senior Buyer to set promotional pricing and markdown strategies that maximize profitability during sales events and clearance periods.

• Keep a close eye on currency exchange rates and their impact on pricing for imported luxury products.

• Conduct regular pricing benchmarking against competitors to ensure the store remains competitive while preserving its luxury positioning.

6) Information/Data Management-

• Timely Updating Brand Catalogues.

• Updating UDA & BNF in style masters.

• Updating Brand sell-through reports.

• Creating top seller bottom seller reports.

• Preparing Sell-through reviews & department reviews.

7) Provide inputs for Monthly Target setting in each category-

• Breaking up of Monthly targets into product category

• Target Vs achievement

• Merchandise plan report

• Product performance Lk2Lk

8) Being a custodian in formulating the Stock & sale plan-

• Product category wise dispatch plan

• Planned Vs actual

• Allocation plan for each store as per dispatch plan and size wise analysis

• Tracking allocation vs. actual dispatches

9) Market Research-

• Stay updated on global and local fashion trends, attending fashion shows, trade events, and keeping a close eye on industry publications and social media to remain informed.

• Analyze competitor offerings and customer reviews to identify gaps in the market and opportunities for differentiation.

• Conduct regular customer surveys and feedback analysis to understand changing preferences and gather insights for assortment adjustments.

• Collaborate with the Senior Buyer to evaluate the performance of women’s wear products in the market, identifying areas for improvement or expansion.

• Translate market insights into actionable buying decisions, such as selecting products that align with current trends and customer demands.

10) Visual Merchandising Support-

• Work closely with the Visual Merchandising team to ensure that women’s wear products are displayed effectively and aesthetically, aligning with the overall store’s visual merchandising guidelines and luxury image.

• Provide input and recommendations on how women’s wear products should be presented in the store, including coordinating product groupings, mannequin displays, and window displays to create an enticing and coherent shopping experience.

• Collaborate with Visual Merchandisers to align product displays with seasonal themes and emerging fashion trends, ensuring that the visual presentation remains fresh and relevant to customers.

• Work with the Visual Merchandising team to coordinate the rotation of inventory and placement of new arrivals, ensuring that the most appealing and seasonally appropriate products are prominently featured.

• Understand customer behavior and shopping patterns to recommend visual merchandising strategies that enhance customer engagement and drive sales, ultimately contributing to the store’s overall success.

11) Sales Analysis-

• Analyze the sales performance of women’s wear products, regularly reviewing sales data, including revenue, units sold, and margins, to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

• Collect and analyze customer feedback, reviews, and comments related to women’s wear products, using this information to gauge customer satisfaction and identify areas for enhancement.

• Collaborate with the Senior Buyer to assess the performance of specific products, styles, and brands within the women’s wear category, determining which items are top performers and which may require adjustments.

• Assist in the creation of sales forecasts and demand projections for women’s wear, leveraging historical sales data and market trends to refine sales expectations and optimize inventory planning.

• Provide data-driven recommendations for assortment adjustments, including product additions, exclusions, or modifications, to improve sales performance and better meet customer demand.

12) Market Intelligence-

• New launches (competition product / window / schemes)

• Competition Mapping

• Training (Merchandise, Product & VM related)

13) Track the Core Business Contribution-

• Monitoring to enhance the category contribution % of total business of LTL basis

• Identifying new designs to be added to this category

14) Help in creation of Retail Design Brief-

• Designing a retail brief to design – option grid & learning of past season

15) Integrated Go To Market (IGTM)-

• Planning for a successful IGTM story along with VM and design

• Dressing up one key store for the look

• Roll – out across stores

16) Integration with space planning-

• Working in close co-ordination with retail planner to closely monitor returns from space allocated

17) Collaboration with Internal Team-

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including the Buying Manager, Visual Merchandising, Planning, and Marketing, to align women’s wear buying strategies with overall business objectives.

• Maintain open lines of communication with vendors and suppliers, sharing relevant information with the procurement team to ensure timely deliveries and smooth inventory management.

• Share sales data, customer feedback, and market insights with cross-functional teams to inform merchandise planning, visual merchandising, and marketing strategies.

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to coordinate promotional activities and sales events, ensuring that marketing efforts align with women’s wear assortments and customer interests.

• Work closely with the Operations team to facilitate efficient stock movements, replenishments, and inventory control, ensuring that women’s wear products are readily available for customers while optimizing stock levels.