Merchandiser

Required Skills:

Merchandiser: The role is primarily responsible for driving product strategy assortment planning and in-season merchandising execution to maximize sales margin and inventory productivity. The individual will own the end-to-end merchandising lifecycle ensuring the right product is available at the right place time and price aligned with brand positioning and customer demand. Key Responsibilities 1. Merchandising Strategy & Assortment Planning (Core Focus) Lead the development of seasonal assortment strategies by category sub-category and SKU level. Curate commercially viable product mixes aligned with customer preferences regional trends and brand positioning. Work closely with buying and brand teams to ensure depth vs. breadth balance in assortments. Drive range planning ensuring optimal category contribution and product lifecycle management. Identify opportunities for new product introduction assortment expansion and gap filling. 2. In-Season Merchandising & Trade Management Continuously track sell-through product performance and category contribution. Take proactive actions on slow-moving stock fast sellers and replenishment opportunities. Recommend and execute markdowns promotions and stock movements to optimize sales and margins. Ensure strong in-season trading decisions based on real-time data and store feedback. 3. Inventory & Allocation Management Ensure optimal inventory levels across stores and channels. Drive store-wise and SKU-level allocations based on performance store grading and demand patterns. Collaborate with supply chain to ensure timely replenishment and stock availability. Maintain healthy inventory by managing aging stock stock turns and liquidation strategies. 4. Pricing & Promotions Define and implement pricing strategies aligned with brand positioning and market competitiveness. Partner with marketing to plan and execute promotional calendars and campaigns. Analyze promotion effectiveness and margin impact optimizing future actions. Ensure price consistency across stores and channels. 5. Market & Trend Analysis Stay updated on fashion trends customer behavior and competitor benchmarking. Translate insights into actionable merchandising decisions. Conduct regular store visits to assess product performance visual merchandising and customer preferences. 6. Sales Planning Support (Secondary Responsibility) Support planning function with sales forecasting and budgeting inputs. Align merchandising strategies with financial targets (sales margin stock turns). 7. Reporting & Insights Develop and maintain MIS reports on sales inventory and product performance. Provide actionable insights for faster stock movement and improved product productivity. Employment Standards Education Bachelors degree in Business Fashion Merchandising Retail Management or related field MBA or relevant certifications preferred Experience 710 years of experience in merchandising within fashion/lifestyle retail Strong exposure to Dubai / GCC retail market is mandatory Required Skills & Competencies Strong merchandising acumen and product sensibility Deep understanding of retail KPIs (sell-through GM% stock turns etc.) Excellent analytical and commercial decision-making skills Ability to balance creativity with business objectives Strong stakeholder management and communication skills High attention to detail and execution excellence Agile and proactive with a hands-on approach to in-season trading