Senior Buyer - Destination Maternity
Al Homaizi Group (LSH)
Total years of experience :16 years, 0 Months
• Budgets & OTB planning for Destination Maternity & other sub brands across Kuwait, UAE & Saudi
• Range plan & Category assortment
• Pricing architecture & margin management
• Identify the missing potential within the existing range & recommend alternatives sourced locally
• Effective & timely execution of new product launches in line with the VM guidelines from the host brand.
• In season stock - management & liquidation
• Plan, execute & analyze the performance of marketing campaigns
• Responsible for the execution of existing store closures based on ROI
• Supervise, coach & motivate subordinates to succeed in their respective succession career paths.
• Responsible for 75% of the total international range of supermarket products of Food, Non Food, Chilled & Frozen across 4
markets (Kuwait, Jordan, Oman & Lebanon).
• Recommend sales forecast based on historical sales, promotions, market trends, Seasonality etc
• Co-ordinate with buyers on new additions to the existing range, pricing strategy, rejected items, certification of products,
promotions etc
• Negotiate moq’s with the suppliers based on demand & their transit time in stores.
• Review CTE merchandise & propose liquidation strategy
• Tracking shipments & prioritize clearance
• Responsible for accuracy of data/information to ensure orders are placed on time.
• Maintain compliance of the ordering calendar & SLA of suppliers to ensure concerns if any are reviewed & resolved.
Accomplishment -
• Acknowledged for the recommendations while being a part of the “inherited overstock” liquidation project which
ensured reduced stock cover.
• Plan and select the range, category & quantity of merchandise according to customer demands, trends, store policies,
RSP and sell through targets with the Senior Merchandiser approval, thereby ensuring that they are in line with the divisional
budget.
• Ensure pre-emptive measures are taken in case of delays / cancellations of seasonal merchandise (Order Tracking).
• Seasonal Competitive Market Analysis.
• Ensure effective in-season stock management across territories (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis,
stock vs. sales performance).
• Provide inputs on expected margins, possible price points and other parameters for promotions within the product category.
• Analyze the effectiveness of promotions in achieving targeted levels of sales and margins.
• Monitor performance against plan for the assigned category/department, regularly.
• Ensure that the standards of merchandise procedures and methodologies are maintained and kept uniform.
• Forecast sales of core lines based on historical sales, new stores, trends, covers and place orders & re-orders accordingly.
• Forecast and place orders for New Launches and work on Initial Allocation / Model Stock.
• Compare Planned Sales vs. Actual sales and take necessary corrective steps to maintain brand stock cover at the lowest
level possible.
• Monitor and Analyze performance of Best Sellers/ Worst Sellers and New Stock Launches.
• Maintain & update OTB (Open to buy) budgets.
• Ensure required stock level for best selling items in both warehouse and store.
• Suggest items for Revamp / Discontinuation.
• Plan & execute opening pack of new stores in line with divisional strategy.
• Review product feedback reports from the Operations team and provide recommendations to the Senior Merchandiser on
relevant stock issues/concerns.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare periodic reports, analyzing the sale turnover and customer trends of the product,
to arrive at a decision to either maintain, liquidate or write off the stocks and/or continue/discontinue product line.
• Attend buying trips of the host brand.
• Update store staff with new products / trends.
• Work in collaboration with the Senior Merchandiser to ensure that accurate buying is obtained resulting in minimal Markdowns
and higher sell thru’s.
• Creating a Middle East special requirement range to cover gaps within the offered range.
• Co-ordinate with the host brand incase of damaged stock & obtain necessary claims.
• Analyze sales & stock position on completion of the season (Post Seasonal & SWOT Analysis).
• Plan & recommend training programs for the Asst. Merch. inorder to develop their skills & competencies
Accomplishments
• Promoted to Merchandiser from Assistant Merch (Lingerie), which contributed to 12% of the total brand sales.
• Successfully grew the business to about 21% & based on this performance was given the opportunity to manage
Womenswear, which contributed to about 35% of the total brand sales.
• Nominated to attend various management training programs (SFA - Sales Force Automation, Assessment Techniques,
Building & Developing a Team, Setting Goals/Prioritization/Delegation, Assertive management approach and planning
& organizing).
• Assist in planning Intakes & Sales.
• Co-ordination with overseas suppliers on stock, funds transfers etc.
• Scrutinize documents before being presented to banks / shipping company’s / COC / Inspection company’s etc
• Liaising with banks on payment terms.
• Order Tracking.
• Interact with Chamber of commerce & Inspection Company’s to raise required documents.
• Present monthly reports to the finance department on inventory & sales.
• Supply chain co-ordination.
Accomplishments -
• Built a strong & trustworthy relationship with the banks, shipping company’s & overseas suppliers.
• Received appreciation from the management on outstanding performance.
• Co-ordinate with the shipping company’s for vessel allocation on quarterly basis in order to meet the ongoing stock
requirements of customers.
• Organize required documentation for smooth execution of sales deed.
• Liaise with banks, customers & suppliers to ensure orders are completed on time.
• Sales, Margin & intakes management.
• Organize required QC (quality control) checks & ensure necessary approvals are obtained.
• Track production status in the plant in order to avoid delays / cancellation of orders
• Execute local customer purchase orders.
’s Degree in
in