Regional Merchandiser

Role Overview:

To introduce the right regional products by generating an in-depth understanding of cultural, ritualistic and community-specific requirements for jewelry and by undertaking extensive indexing of relevant competition. On this basis to work closely with the Category management and the Showroom operations and sales staffs for determining the appropriate sales plan and the supporting assortment plans. This role will also be responsible for identifying regionally relevant products or categories that can be introduced and promoted as such.

Key deliverables:

• Mapping of regional specific products
• Assortment-planning for regional products: Identifying the gaps in the current stock, based on customer, community understanding as well as competitor analysis. Accordingly, planning for product introduction, ensuring that these product gaps are filled.
• Collaborating with category managers and regional vendors to ensure development of products and fill the product gap from time to time.
• Review of product performance and decision making on product- continuation.
• Engaging closely with merchandising heads, Showroom counter staff, Showroom Manager and respective DGM for driving decisions on range expansion or discontinuation.
• Monthly visits to regional competition to benchmark the regional products offered, weight bands, VA ...etc.
• Synthesis of actionable insights and incorporation into the Assortment planning.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Coordinating with different stakeholders such as marketing team, production team, and operations team - to develop practical, marketable and on-trend jewelry products.
• Wherever required, work closely with the Sourcing teams for the timely on boarding on relevant and capable vendor partners.
• Ensure the effective cascade of the newly launched regional products with all the internal teams including Operations, Showrooms, VM, and Marketing etc.
• Identify the best possible offers based on the seasonality in the region & the profitability of the product.
• Support the category managers and merchandising team to conduct regional NPI for the collection.
• Coordinate with Purchase team and NPI team to ensure that the first set of new products are received as per the design selected.
• Conduct periodic canvassing with showrooms for indent enhancement, seasonal up stocking etc. to improve new product penetration.
• Collaborate with marketing for ad-variant planning.

Educational Background: Graduate

Relevant Experience: 5 -10 years with experience in Sourcing or Product development or Design or Merchandising functions with National or Regional jewelry brands. Prior work in the jewelry sector and a thorough understanding of regional nuances is a must.

Behavioral Skills:

• High level of Customer orientation
• Drive for results
• Networking ability
• Detail orientation

Knowledge:

• Category management experience
• Business acumen
• Analytical ability
• Vendor management experience