Senior Merchandising Officer

SMO is responsible to lead, strategize, monitor and report on Category performance (sales , margin, stock holding,Market Share etc) and flow objectives under the guidance of Category Head. .

Key Performance Areas (KPAs) & Principal Accountabilities

Responsible for budgeting, forecasting , making category level strategy and achieving Sales and Margin targets assigned to a particular category

Lead negotiations on annual contract terms with suppliers to maximize benefits for both Sharaf DG and the suppliers including margins, pricing and volumes, product range, MSL, returns and replenishments, payment terms etc

Work closely with stores to ensure a healthily store level sales and Profit and maintaining healthy inventory at each store

Keep up to date with latest retail and category trends about new and innovative products and ways of displaying products

To have a close eye on each competition, making counter strategies to gain market share YOY/ MOM/ WOW

Work Closely with Marketing team to create marketing strategy for own category and provide all necessary inputs to marketing for respective category

Ensure category liaison with key internal interfaces such Product Registration, Vendor Co-ordination, finance reconciliations for category, Brand level reconciliation for respective category, and Store teams to ensure category processes and procedures are implemented effectively. Oversee management of all supplier reconciliation, rebates and any disputes.

Ensure optimum category inventory levels are maintained keeping in mind store requirements as well as working capital constraints, OTB management.

Monitor and make recommendations for customer product needs, preferences based on internal survey data and GFK data, and change Product range/ buying patterns within category

Making weekly/ Monthly category level promotional plans

Ensure planograms and assortment are up to date and making timely clearance plan for Ageing and EOL inventory.

Ensure effective in season management of the assigned category/department through regular analysis and action plan based on the performance around the following anchors: sales vs. Stock, stock analysis, stock balancing, margin analysis

Oversee management of organization training needs for training provided by suppliers for new products

GMROF(Gross margin return on Footage) and GMROI(Gross Margin Return on Inventory) – Achieving yearly targets and benchmarks as well as Defining strategies to improve the GMROF and GMROI

Competition analysis – review and analyze competition offers compared to SDG offers. Suggest improvements based on the analysis

Requirements

5 years + in Category Management in the Retail Industry preferably in Electronics industry