The Senior Executive – Retail Merchandising (Men’s Footwear) will be responsible for developing and managing the Men’s Footwear category for the retail business, with a strong focus on market trends, product assortment, sourcing, buying, costing, margin, inventory, supplier management, and sales performance.
The role will manage sourcing from own manufacturing, local suppliers, and overseas/import suppliers and ensure timely availability of the right products at the right price, quality, quantity, and season.
Key Responsibilities
Product & Category Development
- Develop the Men’s Footwear product range and assortment based on market demand, customer preferences, fashion trends, price points, and brand positioning.
- Identify market gaps and opportunities for new product development.
- Coordinate with Product Development, Design, QC, and suppliers for product development and commercialization.
- Monitor market trends, competitors, fashion, materials, colors, and construction techniques to strengthen the category.
Buying & Merchandise Planning
- Prepare category-wise buying plans, OTB (Open to Buy), and seasonal/monthly budgets.
- Plan and execute buying according to business targets, brand strategy, sales forecast, and inventory requirements.
- Manage assortment, quantity, size ratio, price range, and product mix.
- Identify best sellers for repeat orders and slow-moving products for corrective/marketing actions.
- Ensure timely availability and distribution of finished goods across retail outlets.
Sourcing & Supplier Management
- Source finished footwear from own factory, local suppliers, and overseas/import suppliers.
- Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on quality, price, capacity, lead time, and reliability.
- Negotiate cost, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, and commercial conditions while maintaining target margins.
- Monitor supplier performance and ensure timely production and delivery.
- Follow up closely on outsourcing, production, shipment, receiving, and QC issues.
Costing & Commercial Management
- Analyze product costing and ensure achievement of target cost and margin.
- Coordinate with Accounts & Finance, Costing, Audit, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams for buying and commercial activities.
- Prepare and manage required RIMS PO, VAT PO, Supplier PO, and other relevant purchase documents.
- Review OTB, budget utilization, purchase value, margin, and category profitability.
Inventory & Retail Distribution
- Monitor stock position, sell-through, aging, and inventory turnover.
- Ensure proper distribution of finished goods across retail selling points.
- Recommend shop-to-shop inter-transfer and stock regrouping based on sales performance and stock requirements.
- Coordinate replenishment and repeat orders for high-performing products.
- Identify aged and slow-moving inventory and coordinate appropriate marketing or liquidation actions.
Quality & Production Follow-up
- Coordinate with QC for inspection planning and product quality issues.
- Ensure products meet approved samples, specifications, quality standards, and workmanship requirements.
- Follow up on production and QC issues with suppliers and relevant internal teams.
- Support resolution of quality, delivery, and specification-related issues before product acceptance.
Marketing & Category Support
- Select appropriate finished goods for marketing campaigns, promotions, seasonal activities, and special offers.
- Coordinate with Marketing and Retail teams for product launches and promotional activities.
- Support category-level initiatives to improve sales, margin, product visibility, and inventory movement.
Reporting & Analysis
- Prepare and analyze sales, buying, OTB, stock, sell-through, margin, supplier performance, and category performance reports.
- Use data to make informed decisions on buying, replenishment, pricing, assortment, and inventory.
- Prepare regular management reports and highlight key business risks and opportunities.
- Ensure execution of merchandising activities according to the Merchandising Calendar.
