Buyer

Job description / Role

About Us

As a leader in luxury retail in the Middle East, Al Tayer Group's retail division, Al Tayer Insignia, hosts a portfolio of some of the world's best luxury brands in the fashion, jewelry, home, and department store categories. Complementing its position in luxury retail, Al Tayer Insignia has also built new frontiers in lifestyle retail, representing leading brands in the beauty, home, fashion, and hospitality sectors. Our brands include Bloomingdale's, Harvey Nichols, and Armani to name just a few!

Job Purpose

To plan, project, and identify the requirements of the products, purchasing the required quantities which meet customer needs thereby maximizing profits and providing a commercially viable range of products.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

Functional Roles and Responsibilities

• Analyze market trends, consumer preferences, sell through, seasonal demands, etc., to formulate a buying practice in line with consumer/store demands.
• Plan and select the range, type, quality, and quantity of merchandise according to customer demand, trends, store policies, and set prices and sell through targets in conjunction with the Division Merchandise Manager/GMM to ensure they are in line with the budget.
• Carry out purchasing activities in line with the brand purchase plans.
• Maintain profitable relationships with existing suppliers/principals and monitor the adherence to the contract terms.
• Monitor the stock levels in the stores; coordinate with the planning team to maintain optimal stock levels in line with consumer demand.
• Support the promotional activities in the store and ensure the merchandise is available in time and in the right quantities. Receive and analyze reports on the activities and provide recommendations to the DMM when required.
• Support PR and marketing teams by guiding and validating the selection of products to be included in planned campaigns.
• Keep abreast of market trends and awareness of competitor activities.
• Negotiate with suppliers on the provision of training for the concerned product. Manage the brand training of staff in the area to ensure that the product knowledge is up to date and that all staff are knowledgeable on new products/trends. Prepare regular trends training and deliver to the business units.
• Review buying feedback reports and monitor sales performance on a weekly basis against set targets and provide recommendations to DMM as to buying strategy for a respective brand.
• Prepare periodic reports both for the business and as requested by principals analyzing the sale turnover and consumer trends per product to arrive at a proposal to maintain/liquidate/dispose of the stocks in conjunction with planning and/or continue/discontinue product lines.
• Conduct regular store visits in all markets to review brand performance and competitor activities.

People Management Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to subordinates towards the achievement of goals and objectives.
• Guide and motivate subordinates to enhance performance and produce quality work.

Job Requirements

Education/Certification and Continued Education

• University degree in any discipline followed by qualification in retailing or retail management / purchase / sales or related programs.

Years of Experience

• Proven track record in the field of buying and retailing.
• Buying experience and expertise typically gained over a period of at least 5-8 years.

About the Company

Established in 1979, Al Tayer Group is a privately-held, diversified company with operations in 12 countries in the Middle East and beyond. With over 7,800 employees from 95 different nationalities, the Group has its headquarters in Dubai, UAE.

Al Tayer Group operates leading, quality-focused businesses in automobile sales and service, luxury and lifestyle retail, perfumes and cosmetics distribution, engineering as well as interiors contracting. The Groups portfolio includes several of the worlds leading brands such as Armani, Bvlgari, Banana Republic, Ford, Ferrari, Gucci, Gap, Harvey Nichols and Maserati. The Group operates over 180 stores across multiple markets in the Middle East. In addition, Al Tayer Group has investments in commercial real estate, contracting, supply chain management, precision tools manufacturing and travel agency services.