NATIONAL MERCHANDISING MANAGER – DURBAN – KWAZULU NATAL Full Time

Job Purpose
The Merchandise Manager is responsible for strategically managing inventory, sales, and profitability within specified budgetary parameters set by the Financial Director. This role requires proactive analysis of sales, stock, and market trends to optimize inventory levels, margins, and markdowns while overseeing the entire merchandise team, including buyers and planners. The Merchandise Manager will ensure effective distribution, engage in direct purchasing (particularly stock lots), and bring a trader’s mindset to the role. They will be a key senior leader in the organization, collaborating closely with Marketing, Operations, and Warehouse teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Seasonal and Assortment Planning
   • Lead seasonal post-mortem evaluations to assess the impact of previous strategies on current trade.
   • Create detailed buy plans by season/month, balancing open-to-buy (OTB) within forecasted demand by category.
   • Oversee buying and planning teams to ensure product ranges reflect market trends, consumer demand, and company objectives.
   • Maintain a critical path calendar for all key merchandise events, aligning with product timelines.
   • Identify and translate emerging clothing trends into actionable merchandise plans that resonate with our target audience and meet budgeted price points.
2. Current Trade Merchandise Planning
   • Drive weekly and monthly reviews and reforecasts of sales, stock, margins, markdowns, and turnover by category, adjusting strategies based on trade conditions.
   • Conduct competitor and market analysis to adjust pricing, quality, and promotions, enhancing the competitive edge.
   • Collaborate with Marketing and Visual Merchandising teams to ensure promotional alignment across all stores, reinforcing the brand’s image.
   • Work closely with Operations and Warehouse teams to ensure optimal stock allocation and timely distribution across locations.
3. Stock and Sales Reporting
   • Develop weekly and monthly reports on sales, stock levels, margins, markdowns, and key indicators by category and store.
   • Oversee the inventory allocation process by store and region, establishing store density and inventory targets for each location, including new store launches.
   • Prepare monthly RLC and end-of-season reports with analyses to guide future planning and decision-making.
4. Supplier and Inventory Management
   • Manage supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, credit terms, and quality standards in line with company goals.
   • Oversee stock lot purchases, ensuring they meet company quality and profitability standards.
   • Ensure quality assurance and timely delivery from suppliers, monitoring OTIF (on-time, in-full) metrics and addressing performance as necessary.
   • Manage the clearance of redundant stock, damages, returns, and supplier claims to maintain healthy inventory.
5. People Management and Development
   • Lead the merchandise team, including both buyers and planners, ensuring alignment with company objectives and market demands.
   • Conduct regular performance reviews with team members, identifying high-potential individuals and fostering succession planning.
   • Create a culture of growth, accountability, and collaboration within the merchandise team, promoting staff development to meet both personal and organizational goals.
   • Work closely with HR on training, recruitment, and managing any employee relations issues.
6. Strategic Planning and BI Integration
   • Utilize BI tools to enhance merchandise planning, identifying patterns and opportunities for optimization.
   • Engineer product assortments to achieve strategic price points without compromising quality, reinforcing competitive positioning.
   • Lead in strategic discussions, presenting key insights on projected sales, cost of sales, gross profit, and market expansion possibilities.
   • Collaborate cross-functionally with senior leaders in Marketing, Operations, and Warehouse to ensure alignment with overall business strategy.

Behavioral Outputs

• Leadership and Communication: Clearly communicate objectives across teams, fostering an environment of shared goals and collaborative success.
• Market Awareness: Maintain a trader’s mentality, combining analytical rigor with responsiveness to market conditions and trends.
• Decision-Making: Prioritize tasks and manage resources effectively to support agile decision-making and sustained performance.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Operations, and Warehouse, ensuring alignment on business goals.

Critical Dimensions

1. Merchandise Planning: Sales growth, markdown and gross profit margins, stock turnover, and stock ageing.
2. Warehouse and Distribution: Efficient inventory allocation, timely distribution, and quality management.
3. People Management: Team alignment, recruitment, training, and career development.
4. Data-Driven Strategy: Leverage BI insights to inform planning and drive profitability.
5. Trend Translation and Price Engineering: Identify trends and engineer assortments to meet target price points.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in merchandise management within retail clothing.
• Strong track record in buying, planning, and budget management, with an ability to translate market trends into profitable merchandise strategies.
• Proven ability to negotiate, purchase stock lots, and foster vendor partnerships.
• Experience in a growing retail environment is highly advantageous.
• Familiarity with BI tools and advanced analytical skills.