Design Merchandiser

JOB TITLE: Design Merchandiser

FUNCTIONAL AREA: Apparel

REPORTS TO: Creative Head- Textiles/ Senior Design Manager

POSITIONS OBJECTIVE: (Brief on position’s objective)

Provide creative direction to the brand (Product design & development).Support in range and review presentation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Range development & presentation:

• Help in creating mood-boards and themes for the season
• Conduct sample development with support from SCM, sampling unit and direct purchase
• Ensure range development basis design brief in coordination with PH
• Work on new product development for new Business based on design brief, option plan, range plan
• Coordinate with Fabric PH and weaver for arranging sampling yardages
• Maintain the right mix of silhouettes, fabrics, cuts, sleeves, necklines etc. in samples based on the buy plan
• Regular Market & Competitor analysis to ensure ranges & pricing is in keeping with the market trends
• Share style-wise modifications/comments with PH/Producer on shortlisted and rejected samples within a week of receipt/review of range
• Maintain sampling tracker and update it in real time
• Work on new product development for Occasion Wear based on design brief, option plan , range plan

• Range review/ Presentation

• Ensure receipt of all samples with correct trims as per agreed timelines
• Timely colourway closures
• Prepare for internal range presentations up to the MRH & consolidate feedback on the range
• Photoshoot and cataloguing of new range

• Selection rate of presented range :
• Create & present a range as per the option plan & price mix
• Ensure Fabric innovation as well as core fabric representation in the range

• Production :
• Colourway Closure, Style Detailing, Product changes pre MRH to be completed and handed over to Production
• Help support Design Input in case of Fast Chase opportunities
• Review Fabric qualities with Fabric team before ordering and work
• Assist the production team in working on CAD consumptions
• Assist in diluting the fabric stock as per the requirement
• Assist in PH allocation
• Documentation:

• Prepare and maintain fabric charts
• Catalogue Product Range
• Timely return of rejected samples and documentation per SPPI requirement
• Archive all Designer/comp samples for future discussion/reference

JOB SPECIFICATION: (QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE)

• Years of Functional Experience: 1-8 years of work experience in Buy Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting and Category Performance Review in an apparel Industry
• Degree/Diploma: MFM NIFT / Pearl / MBA
• Role: Team Management

• Knowledge & Skills:

• Product Knowledge
• Strong buying & category planning
• Commercial Acumen – budgeting, buy plan

ANNEXURE A:

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED: (includes behavioural and functional competency)

a. FOCUS ON RESULTS:

• Shows passion for excellence & seeks opportunities to continuously improve organizational processes and outcomes for overall growth of organization
• Meets functional & company’s goals through a positive collaboration and cross functional alignment
• Work through and achieve challenging objectives regularly and drives better or more efficient systems and policies across the company

b. INNOVATION & OPENNESS TO LEARNING:

• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning by honing new skills related and unrelated to job
• Works to create novel but implementable systems/processes
• Proactively creates change in strategy or approach with changing situation for benefit of company and its customers and devotes time for driving innovation and improvement initiatives

c. CUSTOMER FOCUS:

• Creates & evaluates systems basis customer’s/stakeholders’ feedback and assess satisfaction
• Develops partnerships with external and internal customers and acts as a trusted advisor
• Commits significant resources and/ or time to improve performances or try something new and may push own management to provide “Customer Delight”

d. DECISION MAKING:

• Takes well considered and if required, tough decisions within realistic time frames, showing appropriate levels of analysis and balance between explicit and implicit considerations
• Looks beyond own functional interests while taking decisions which impact the organization and consults experts, (internal and external) to drive recommendations
• Evaluates situations and data objectively; avoids making assumptions about the facts of a situation or the motivations of others
• Takes ownership of own and group decisions

e. ENTREPRENEURIAL & STRATEGIC ORIENTATION:

• Demonstrates strategic thinking and utilizes the understanding of company products and industry and environment to identify and exploit breakthrough opportunities

f. PLANNING & ANALYSIS:

• Demonstrates process orientation, is able to evaluate efficacy of processes and take a macro perspective as well as dive into details when necessary
• Maintains an awareness of the interrelationships among multiple activities in an area or project, planning work assignments and resource allocation accordingly
• Generates options, visualizes possibilities and formulates new approaches, translating ideas into actions to be taken
• Involves team in planning process and making it participative and collaborative

h. TEAMWORK

• Drives cross functional partnerships and acts in accordance with final group decisions even when such decisions may not entirely reflect one’s own position
• Values opinions and ideas and gives recognition to the contributions/ constraints of people from other functional areas and uses them to create win- win solutions
• Listens to all points of view and is open in sharing ideas and seeking help, looking for alternative ways to work with others to create better results
• Proactively shares information with key stakeholders keeping betterment of the organizational interest in mind
• Shows flexibility and willingness to encourage conflicting views and resolving differences, is sensitive to the impact of conflicts on relationships and view conflict as an opportunity towards improved working
• Presents ideas and proposals in a structured, crisp and concise manner (both verbally and in written form) to effectively communicate the intended message
• Keeps arguments issue-oriented, responds to opposing views in a non-defensive manner and marshals’ arguments in support of position
• Uses effective communication techniques to offer compromises and trade-offs to others, as necessary, to gain their cooperation