Manager_Buying_Buying Concept.Shoe Mart.UAE_JAFZA_Shoe Mart

Role Overview

Manager, Buying Concept at Shoe Mart, located in JAFZA, UAE. Shoe Mart is part of Landmark Group, a global retail and hospitality entity.

Company Overview

Landmark Group is a UAE-based retail and hospitality group founded in 1973, operating over 2,200 retail stores, leisure, and hospitality outlets across the GCC, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The group owns 25 plus value-led, own-built brands spanning retail, hospitality, food, and leisure.

Shoe Mart is the largest retailer of footwear and accessories in the Middle East, with over 160 stores serving nearly 7 million shoppers annually. Shoe Mart has a 34-year history as a trusted footwear retailer in the region. The company also manages Shoe Express, a 50-store value footwear brand in self-service format, and Pablosky, a 9-store premium kids' footwear brand. Shoe Mart partners with over 150 vendors globally, many with 30-year relationships. The company carries in-house brands including Celeste, Duchini, Le Confort, Missy, and Juniors, alongside international brands such as Adidas, Kappa, Lee Cooper, and Skechers.

Role Purpose

Lead the complete buying and category management function for Ladies footwear brands and product lines, ensuring commercially viable ranges that drive customer satisfaction, year-on-year sales growth, margin improvement, and optimal stock levels.

Key Responsibilities

Buying & Category Management

• Lead the entire buying process across Ladies brands and product lines to ensure right and commercially viable product ranges.
• Inspire the buying team to think creatively and deliver newness in the product range.
• Oversee category management to ensure maximization of sales and profitability.
• Manage financial goals including pre-season plans, in-season projections, and open-to-buy to support retail requirements while maintaining alignment with financial parameters.
• Lead the process of aligning merchandising planners with open-to-buy to ensure the right assortment is delivered to stores.

Product Development

• Oversee and guide the category throughout the entire product creation process, ensuring alignment with key deliverables and milestones to meet specified factory deadlines.
• Analyze and evaluate briefs, design tech packages, models, and samples, identifying potential concerns related to construction, materials, fit, or cost.
• Coordinate team efforts, manage relationships, facilitate reviews, oversee delivery, and secure approvals.
• Provide valuable insights, suggestions, and information to ensure timely delivery of quality products at the right cost.

Stock & Cost Optimization

• Manage inventory including stock loss mitigation, booked inventory budget, and terminal stock to ensure optimal stock levels meet retail requirements within financial parameters.
• Manage centralized bulk buying, margins, and markdowns, and select vendor mix to optimize costs.

Vendor & Order Management

• Establish and manage relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure financially beneficial partnerships through maximizing ranges, sales, profit margin, and delivery within budget.
• Liaise with logistics to monitor supplier efficiency and effectiveness, identify potential risks and delays, and take appropriate remedial action.
• Place orders and ensure merchandise is delivered on a timely basis in line with service level agreements and buying plans.

Analysis & Intelligence

• Analyze and monitor reports, MIS analytics, actual sales, forecasts, inventory checks, and replenishment needs to accurately forecast and meet business needs.
• Analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats relative to competition and market conditions to identify business opportunities.
• Analyze customer buying trends, competitors, and market activities to predict future trends and seasonal product requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant qualification in retail, design, or preferably footwear.
• Minimum 5 to 7.5 years of buying experience in the relevant category.
• Knowledge of footwear retail within the region.
• Knowledge of the buying process and practices including multiple critical path management.
• Knowledge of product development.
• Knowledge of trends and market shifts.

Skills & Competencies

• Ability to visualize and anticipate the needs of the business.