MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
Range development/Planning
1. Continually drive internal merchandising relationships to include new brands and trends
2. Coordinate and support strategies and plans at the category level
3. Facilitate awareness of changing merchandise opportunities, trends and competition
4. Lead the merchandise team to develop assortment strategies by the business to meet overall strategic objectives including evaluating and/or developing product lines and sourcing new products
5. Lead the Buyers input into marketing plan and work closely with Marketing / Ecommence team
6. Monitor the categories merchandising mix across different zones. Provide direction to team to avoid product conflicts on overlapping between different categories.
7. Share responsibility with Supply Chain for the timely opening and closing of seasons with strong forecasts and budgets and inventory management.
8. Work with team to analyse department, category and item performance and ensure reaction to trend.
9. Develop and leverage strong Vendor relationships
10. Work with team for Vendor performance reviews and business development plans
11. Work with District Manager & Store Planning team for merchandising and zone plans decision for new and existing stores
12. Coordinate with MFP team for updates of planning for business.
Categories Management.
1. Work with Merchandise Buyers to ensure that category SKN counts are in line with overall SKN budgets
2. Assign ASG codes with consideration to space availability by store
3. Partner with MP on OTB management to ensure sales and inventory targets are met and emerging trends identified
4. Negotiate over and above vendor funding where appropriate for catalogue inclusions, in store activities, and feature spaces.
5. Partner with the IC and MFP team to manage aged inventory and implement inventory reduction strategies in line with EOP’s.
6. Monitor product lifecycles.
7. Coordinate with MP on special buys, sales forecasts and promotional forecasts.
8. Partner with the Store Planning team to ensure that store layouts and range execution aligns with the category strategy and optimizes ROI.
Vendor management
1. Engage vendors in regular reviews and meetings to analyse brand and product performance within assigned categories
2. Work with vendor partners to develop products that capitalise on new trends and opportunities.
3. Work with vendors to secure unique, exclusive or first to market products
4. Negotiate quit cycles and product markdown agreements with vendors to ensure slow moving lines are addressed.
5. Negotiation of vendor trading terms, allowances and annual rebates
6. Facilitate opportunities to participate in store training to develop the selling skills of associates
7. Partner with the IC team to review vendor delivery performance targets
8. Ensure vendors comply with the Toys “R” Us Shipping Manual on product weight and labeling
Leadership&Telent Enhancement
1. Strive to maintain a positive and collaborative culture and place to work within the wider team as captured in Staff Engagement Survey
2. Mentor and develop skills of the Buyer’s Assistant through providing feedback, coaching and guidance.
3. Accountable for talent and performance management, culture development, and recognition for direct team and broader category support organization.
4. Review and improve work process and job allocation for Sales & Merchandising Team. Coach, develop, and review work performance of team members.
5. Ensure that probationary reviews, performance check ins and annual performance appraisals for direct reports are completed and that Individual Development Plans are actively coached upon
6. Ensure that performance issues are addressed in a timely manner in consultation with the HR Team
7. Adhere to all Toys “R” Us Health and Safety processes and policies
QA & Compliance
1. Ensure all products that are bought come with up to date and relevant test reports compliant to China’s requirements
2. Work with QA manager on bans, recalls and remove off shows
3. Activate or deactivate do not sell (DNS) on products as per advice from QA team
4. Escalate any issues with product safety, compliance and quality to QA Manager
5. Seek advice on any uncertainty with test reports or information provided by vendors
6. Follow all buying process or guild lines set out by Toys “R” Us and seek to achieve best practice
7. Promote a culture of buy safe, sell safe, stay safe
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Bachelor Degree or above. At least 6 years of related working experience in MNC with retail/FMCG/Sourcing background.
2. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills. At least 3 years of experience in staff development as a team leader.
3. Excellent communication skills. Ability to influence and build consensus with other functions.
4. Ability to detail and accuracy (analytical and financial competencies).
5. Ability to drive continuous improvement through collaboration and strong vendor and internal stakeholder relationships. Can work productivity in a fast pace environment with deadlines and multi tasks.
6. Self-motivated with business prospective. A good team player/Junior team leader.
7. Ensure compliance with all business partners, legal and ethics standards
8. Committed to excellence.