JOB DESCRIPTION / ROLE
Overview of the role
The assistant merchandiser plays a crucial role in supporting the senior merchandiser and merchandiser of the business unit. The role involves analytical responsibilities such as producing and analyzing reports to recommend actionable strategies, assisting in product selection and planning, and ensuring the effective updating and managing of data. This position requires strong collaboration skills to liaise with store teams, provide first-point-of-contact service for stock issues, and contribute to broader strategic planning for catalogues and product ranges. Success in this role is marked by the ability to maintain optimum stock levels and provide data-driven insights that enhance buying decisions.
What you will do
Allocation process
Manage accurate BTF setting and ratio balancing.
Guide and train allocators.
Manage and implement AI allocation solution from Invent Analytics.
Liaise with stores to understand regional needs, ensuring optimum stock levels and correct size availability.
Improve availability and sell through in stores.
Business reports and analysis
Generate accurate and clear business reports.
Maintain reporting processes and generate promotion tracking.
Analyze weekly trade reports and recommend action points.
Report and flag best/worst sellers, analyze customer habits, and understand product choices.
Produce and analyze seasonal sales and recommend future buying decisions.
Catalogue buying
Assist senior merchandiser/merchandiser in catalogue buying process.
Maintain core buying sheet and implement demand planning solution.
Enter buying quantities into IBT/Digital Range Building system.
Prepare planograms using DRB and make comparisons against last year, buying budget, and promotional calendar.
Contribute to business unit strategy with market awareness and product appreciation.
Communication
Act as first point of contact for stores on stock issues and assist in weekly trade communications.
Contribute to planning for retail conference and digital transformation strategy.
Provide accurate information for business users and ensure online product data is customer friendly.
Maintain strong relationships with principals and ensure comprehensive regional offers.
Leading people
Communicate strategic objectives clearly and work to SMART goals.
Provide coaching for team development and succession planning with HR business partner.
Role model Al-Futtaim Way behaviours and M&S values.
Engage in quality performance development review processes to ensure high team engagement and development.
Required skills to be successful
- Strong analytical and numerical skills with attention to detail.
- Proficient in using Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.
- Excellent communication and collaborative skills.
- Capability to manage and train team members effectively.
What qualifies you for the role
- Bachelor's degree in business management or equivalent.
- Minimum of 3 years experience in fashion buying and merchandising at the assistant or allocator level.
- Experience in a retail buying environment in MENA and/or Europe, with an understanding of UK/European brands.
- Strong proficiency in Excel and familiarity with SAP is an additional advantage.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.
The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.
The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.
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