Assistant Buyer

Role Overview

Assistant Buyer at Apparel Group. The position is responsible for assisting in category planning, vendor coordination, and inventory monitoring to help achieve gross margin goals and maintain a healthy sell-through rate of 60% or above.

Role Purpose

Support the buying team in developing product ranges, coordinating with suppliers, monitoring inventory, and analyzing market trends to drive profitability and maintain target sell-through performance across the retail portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Product Range & Strategy

• Assist in the development of brand strategy through research and analysis of target customers and market positioning.
• Support category planning activities by analyzing performance, trends, and sales potential.
• Contribute to the seasonal purchase strategy by leveraging reports and historical data shared by the planning and merchandising teams.
• Participate in store grading to align product assortments across diverse store types, such as premium versus value-focused.
• Assist in developing procurement strategies for seasonal sales using historical product performance.
• Support pricing decisions through competitive benchmarking and market intelligence.

Order Management

• Prepare and track procurement orders to ensure timely delivery in line with service level agreements and purchase plans.
• Monitor in-transit inventory to ensure smooth stock movement from supplier to warehouse.
• Coordinate with principals and suppliers for procurement under the guidance of the Buyer.

Vendor Coordination

• Support the Buyer in maintaining strong supplier relationships to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant deliveries.
• Follow up on supplier performance, delivery timelines, and contractual adherence.

Store & Visual Merchandising

• Conduct store visits to monitor product displays and gather insights on product performance.
• Visit competitor stores for benchmarking and trend inspiration.
• Track stock levels and weeks of cover, raising alerts when stock adjustments are needed.
• Collaborate with store staff to collect feedback on customer preferences and product performance.

Market & Competition Awareness

• Stay updated on fashion trends and evolving customer preferences in local and international markets.
• Track competitor activities, product offerings, and pricing strategies to support informed buying decisions.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in retail or merchandising, preferably within a fashion or lifestyle brand.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or a related field from a recognized institution.
• Understanding of product strategy, vendor coordination, range planning, and trend analysis.
• Familiarity with market research, sales data interpretation, and forecasting techniques.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficient in MS Excel and PowerPoint.
• Basic ERP systems knowledge.