Job Description: Develop strategic buying plans for the assigned department/category. Ensure smooth buying operations through vendor identification, evaluation and selection, in compliance with the contract principles to achieve the strategic and financial objectives of the concept.Responsibilities:1. Buying Budget and PlanningDetermine buying requirements and formulate buying plan and budget for the assigned department/categoryAlign the buying plan to the overall department/category business plan and the merchandize strategy as laid down by the department/ category managerHelp meet the profit targets by ensuring timely procurement of the department/category MerchandisePursue cost reduction measures through centralized bulk buying and/ or selecting appropriate vendor mix, scanning the environment for benchmarks and constantly improving the purchase process2. Category Merchandise PlanningDrive customer focused merchandise plans (pricing, promotion, assortment etc.) for the department to achieve sales and market share growth, and freeze associated plan with Merchandise Planning departmentStudy trends from historical data around product category sales and market research to assist in the overall planning processEnsure adherence to financial plan in all key areas - sales, markdowns, margin & average inventory3. Vendor ManagementDevelop an adequate vendor base for the concept through active scouting and negotiation / renegotiationBuild and maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers and negotiate the best deals with them for procuring merchandiseMaintain contact with vendors; update list of vendors for bidding purposes; attend product demonstrations, obtain samples and literature regarding potential products and vendor capabilities and confer with end usersIdentify, evaluate and select appropriate vendor mix to achieve business objectives4. Order ManagementPlace orders based on the buying plan and ensure merchandise is delivered as per the plan based on the agreed service level agreementImplement financial and credit services agreement with the vendor that maximize profit and positively contribute to cash flowTrack the merchandise transportation from supplier to Home Centre distribution centre and ensure smooth flow of goodsFollow the reverse logistics guidelines to send the faulty / damaged goods back to the vendor5. Vendor and Product Research.Identify and leverage alternate buying opportunities to source products and to ensure that company maintains its competitive edge by constant renegotiationEnsure effective communication, collation and follow-up on various product requirements and findings obtained from the sales/store dataKeep abreast of the latest trends in buying and discuss the same with the department/category Manager from time to time to assess realignment of existing processes.Map competition prices / products and provide qualitative inputs to the businessGather information from Industry trade groups or through trade shows/market visitsQualifications: Post graduate or Graduate, 8-10 years' relevant experience of which at least 6 years should have been in the retail industry.About Us:Our journey started in 1973 with a single store in Bahrain. Since then, we have grown into a global retail and hospitality group. The proud creator of 25 plus value led, own-built brands across retail, hospitality, food, and leisure.Over the years, our UAE - based group has evolved into a comprehensive retail and hospitality entity, with over 2200 retail stores, leisure, and hospitality outlets, panning the GCC, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Today, Landmark Group is one of GCC's largest omnichannel retailers and India's top home and fashion retailer.We take immense pride in the organic growth of our retail brands, which have blossomed into household names. From Max, Splash, Babyshop, Centrepoint, Shoemart, Homecentre, Emax, Fitness First, to Funcity, to name a few, our brands span across a multitude of categories, enriching the lives of countless families over the past decade.About the Team:Home Centre is the largest omnichannel retailer for home furnishings in the Middle East, North Africa & the Indian sub-continent.Home Centre offers outstanding value, quality products, and exceptional customer experience which is revealed in their new brand identity that is underpinned by their customer-first approach of enabling every home to tell its own unique story.Established in 1995 with its first store in the UAE, today Home Centre has a wide network of over 80 stores, across the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and India. Easy to navigate and serving as a one-stop solution for all home furnishing, the Home Centre e-commerce platform provides customers an extensive range of over 14,000 products at the tip of the fingers.
