Senior Buyer
Ali Abdulwahab AlMutawa Commercial Bldg.
Total years of experience :13 years, 5 Months
Senior Buyer for a 220 sqm. multi-department Contemporary Streetwear Store.
Main Responsibilities:
• Working with Senior Management to redevelop a brand identity.
• Working with a design team to develop a retail concept for a new store location in Kuwait.
• Working with marketing on building a marketing calendar for the forthcoming year.
• Liaising with marketing to develop a Customer Relations Management System
• Allocating budget by brand, by department and evaluating spend versus budget.
• Forecasting sales and sales growth on a brand and department level.
• Creating buying strategies for the department.
• Researching market trends and conducting competitor’s visits to understand what works and what does not within the market.
• Researching and approach new brands in the industry to help overcome department gaps.
• Assortment selection and preparation of Order Sheets.
• Negotiating trade, buy discounts and exclusivities with suppliers.
Key Achievements:
• Facilitated the relocation of SNKR to The Avenues Mall, Kuwait.
• Streamlined the reporting process & instilled best practices across the business to maximize efficiency.
Main Responsibilities:
Privileged to handle multiple departments, my work entitles me to a busy yet productive schedule. Some of my responsibilities include:
• Allocating budget by brand, by department and evaluating spend versus budget.
• Forecasting sales and sales growth on a brand and department level.
• Creating buying strategies for the department.
• Creating brand adjacencies and floor plans.
• Evaluating the brand portfolio on a seasonal basis to understand the business and fill missing avenues in price-point and fashionability.
• Researching and approach new brands in the industry to help overcome department gaps.
• Assortment selection and preparation of Order Sheets and cross referencing them against Order Confirmations.
• Negotiating trade, buy discounts and exclusivities with suppliers.
• Liaise with group legal counsel to draft contracts and addendums for concession vendors.
• Follow up on renewal and renegotiation of concession contracts
• Discuss and initiate sales incentives with vendors to help drive sales in the department.
• Review marketing opportunities with brands on a seasonal basis.
• Maintaining delivery trackers and following up on Pro Forma Invoices whilst liaising with Merchandising and Logistics to ensure the stock arrives in a timely manner.
• Liaising with concessions partners and scheduling replenishment deliveries on best sellers.
• Furnish departmental analysis to senior management on a weekly basis.
• Cascade weekly sales overview to members of staff at weekly trade meetings.
• Conducting stock and sales analysis to better understand the business.
• Evaluating stock and placing reorders for performing lines.
• Preparing a seasonal buy review to present to senior management to compare forthcoming buys with those from previous season.
• Researching market trends and conducting competitor’s visits to understand what works and what does not within the market.
• Compiling and presenting seasonal Brand Directory for all brands under managed departments.
• Liaising with a team of Visual Merchandisers and Marketing Experts to help promote up and coming brands.
• Working with suppliers to conduct brand training for the sales team for concession products.
Key Achievements:
• Facilitated the launch of the Manolo Blahnik Shop-in-Shop on the Footwear Floor, June 2014
• Instrumental in the launch of Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s Fur Boutique, September 2014
• Instrumental in bringing the sunglasses buys in-house, October 2014
• Facilitated the launch of the Tom Ford Shop-in-Shop on the Sunglasses Floor, June 2015
• Facilitated the launch of the Gucci Shop-in-Shop on the Jewellery Floor, November 2015
• Facilitated the launch of the Chanel Shop-in-Shop on the Sunglasses Floor, December 2015
• Successfully transition entire Eyewear and Jewellery departments to net payment terms, July 2015
An Educational Counselor helping students make a choice of college and helping them apply
Period: May 2011 - Present
Main Responsibilities:
Recruiting students to the United Kingdom, France and New Zealand
Arranging accommodation as well as airport pick-up for recruited students
Marketing available options to potential students
Other Responsibilities:
Volunteered at the “IDP Australia Open Day” held on the 3rd of October 2011 organized by IDP Kuwait
Volunteered counseling services for Columbia College, Canada at the "Study in Canada" Exhibition held on the 2nd of October 2011 for the sixth annual Middle East Education Initiative (MEEI)
Volunteered as an Invigilator for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
A creative writer for products being sold on eBay, one of Datamatics prime accounts.