The Assistant Manager – Buying & Merchandising will support the Sports Footwear category in seasonal range planning, assortment building, product and category performance tracking, and End-of-Season Sale (EOSS) planning. The role will work closely with the Buying & Merchandising team, Marketing, Stores, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective range execution, product availability, sell-through, and category performance.
The role will also contribute to store-level performance analysis, product knowledge initiatives, merchandise presentation, and new product development for key channels and partners.

Particulars

Details

Job Title

Buying & Merchandising

Designation

Assistant Manager

Department

Category – Footwear (Sports)

Position Type

Permanent

Location

Mumbai

Reporting To

Senior Manager – Buying & Merchandising

No. of Reportees

Individual Contributor

Experience

2–5 Years

Education

Postgraduate qualification from FDDI or an equivalent qualification in Footwear, Fashion, Merchandising, Retail, or a related field.

Role Purpose

The Assistant Manager – Buying & Merchandising will support the Sports Footwear category in seasonal range planning, assortment building, product and category performance tracking, and End-of-Season Sale (EOSS) planning. The role will work closely with the Buying & Merchandising team, Marketing, Stores, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective range execution, product availability, sell-through, and category performance.

The role will also contribute to store-level performance analysis, product knowledge initiatives, merchandise presentation, and new product development for key channels and partners.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Season Range Planning & Assortment

• Support seasonal range planning and assortment building for the Sports Footwear category.
• Participate in and coordinate season product conferences.
• Support the development of category-wise product assortments aligned with business and category requirements.
• Create and maintain seasonal buy forms and product catalogues.
• Track and monitor seasonal product launches and ensure alignment with planned assortments.

2. Product & Delivery Management

• Take ownership of tracking season deliveries for the respective category.
• Monitor product availability and highlight potential delivery or availability gaps to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure timely execution of seasonal product plans.

3. Category Performance & Sell-Through

• Monitor and analyses category performance and sell-through on a periodic basis.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of performance at:
  • Region level
  • Store and store-grade level
  • Category level
  • Gender level
  • Style level
  • Size level
• Identify key performance trends, gaps, and opportunities and share relevant insights with the Buying & Merchandising team.
• Support achievement of agreed GM% and category performance deliverables.

4. EOSS Planning & Monitoring

• Support the End-of-Season Sale (EOSS) planning in coordination with the Buying Manager.
• Analyse category and store-level performance to support EOSS decisions.
• Monitor EOSS performance and highlight key trends, opportunities, and concerns.

5. Marketing & Visual Merchandising Support

• Support the Marketing calendar and key marketing initiatives for the season.
• Draft and support the implementation of merchandise display plans for new-season products.
• Coordinate with relevant teams to ensure appropriate product visibility and presentation across stores.

6. Product Training & Knowledge Building

• Conduct product training sessions for store teams.
• Build and strengthen product knowledge among store staff, particularly around key Sports Footwear products, features, benefits, and selling points.
• Support the dissemination of seasonal product information to relevant stakeholders.

7. Product Development & Channel Support

• Support new product development initiatives for key channels and partners.
• Work with the Buying & Merchandising team to provide category and market inputs relevant to product development.
• Support evaluation of product and assortment opportunities based on category and channel requirements.

Role Specifications

Qualification

• Graduate from FDDI (Footwear Design & Development Institute) preferred.
• Candidates with relevant educational qualifications in Footwear, Fashion, Retail, Merchandising, or related disciplines may also be considered.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in Buying & Merchandising, preferably within the Sports Footwear / Footwear / Retail industry.
• Prior experience in seasonal range planning, assortment building, category analysis, and sell-through management is preferred.

Key Competencies

• Seasonal Range Planning & Assortment Building
• Sports Footwear / Footwear Category Knowledge
• Buying & Merchandising
• Sell-Through Management
• Category Performance Analysis
• Store-Level Performance Analysis
• EOSS Planning & Management
• Product & Size-Level Analysis
• GM% & Category Performance Management
• Product Knowledge & Training
• Merchandise Display Planning
• Cross-functional Coordination
• Analytical & Data Interpretation Skills
• Commercial Acumen
• Attention to Detail

Key Success Measures

• Effective seasonal range and assortment planning
• Achievement of category sell-through and GM% targets
• Timely tracking and execution of seasonal deliveries
• Accuracy and quality of category/store-level performance analysis
• Effective EOSS planning and performance
• Successful execution of product training and seasonal product initiatives
• Contribution to new product development and channel-specific assortment opportunities

About Skechers

Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.