Role & responsibilities

1. Revenue & Profitability

- Deliver budgeted Net Sales Value (NSV), gross margin, and category profitability targets.
- Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans (JBP) with partner brands.
- Create seasonal buy plans and assortment strategies for assigned categories.
- Identify growth opportunities through category analysis, pricing, and product mix optimization.
- Monitor business performance and implement corrective actions to achieve sales and margin objectives.

2. Merchandise & Inventory Management

- Drive inventory productivity through effective Sell Through Rate (STR) management and working capital optimization.
- Ensure timely merchandise availability across stores through effective planning and replenishment.
- Monitor stock health, inventory ageing, stock cover, and markdown requirements.
- Coordinate with Distribution Centre (DC), Supply Chain, and Store Operations teams for seamless product flow and availability.
- Ensure optimum inventory allocation and replenishment based on sales trends and store requirements.

3. Buying & Assortment Planning

- Analyze historical sales data, consumer buying behavior, and market insights to develop category strategies.
- Study fashion trends, customer preferences, and competitive benchmarks to identify business opportunities.
- Collaborate with Design, Sourcing, and Product Development teams to build commercially strong assortments.
- Ensure comprehensive trend coverage and the right product mix across brands and categories.
- Leverage analytics and market intelligence to enhance buying effectiveness and improve Hit Article Mix (HAM).

4. Brand & Vendor Management





- Build strong relationships with brand partners and vendors to drive business growth.
- Conduct periodic business reviews with brands to monitor performance and identify opportunities.
- Attend trade shows, market visits, and industry events to identify emerging trends and new brands.
- Ensure timely closure of account reconciliations and coordination for vendor payments.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Work closely with Sales teams to understand customer demand and execute sales-driving initiatives.
- Coordinate with Operations teams for order fulfillment, returns to vendor (RTV), and inventory management.
- Partner with Supply Chain teams to ensure timely deliveries and resolve operational discrepancies.
- Collaborate with Visual Merchandising (VM) teams for creation and implementation of Standard Display Modules (SDM).
- Support Marketing teams for seasonal campaigns, product launches, and go-to-market (GTM) initiatives.

6. New Store Openings & Seasonal Launches

- Plan and execute merchandise requirements for Recent Store Openings (NSO).
- Finalize key brands, collections, and launch highlights in coordination with stakeholders.
- Ensure timely inwarding, dispatch, and availability of launch merchandise.
- Drive exclusive merchandise planning and launch initiatives for Pantaloons.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams to ensure successful seasonal and brand launches.

Key Skills & Competencies

- Category Buying & Merchandising
- Retail Analytics & Business Planning
- Inventory Management & Replenishment
- Vendor & Brand Management
- Merchandise Planning
- Fashion Trend Forecasting
- Negotiation & Commercial Acumen
- Data Analysis & Decision Making
- Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management
- Advanced Excel and Retail MIS

📌 We are hiring | Assistant Manager - Category NPT (Ethnic & Kids) (Mumbai)
🏢 ABFRL
📍 Mumbai