Assistant Buyer

R&B Fashion; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

R&B Fashion in Dubai seeks a merchandising professional to support category planning, vendor coordination, and inventory monitoring to help achieve margin goals and healthy sell-through rates. The role emphasizes brand strategy, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration with planning and merchandising teams.

The position requires a minimum of 2 years in retail or merchandising, proficiency in MS Excel and PowerPoint, familiarity with ERP systems, and a Bachelor’s degree in

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience in retail or merchandising, preferably within a fashion or lifestyle brand.
• Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and basic ERP systems.
• Understanding of product strategy, vendor coordination, range planning, and trend analysis.
• Familiarity with market research, sales data interpretation, and forecasting techniques.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or a related field from a recognized institution.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing brand strategy through research and analysis of target customers and market positioning.
• Support category planning by analyzing performance, trends, and sales potential.
• Contribute to seasonal purchase strategy using reports and historical data from planning/merchandising teams.
• Participate in store grading to align product assortments across store types.
• Assist in procurement strategies for seasonal sales using historical product performance.
• Support pricing decisions through competitive benchmarking and market intelligence.
• Coordinate with principals and suppliers for procurement under Buyer guidance.
• Prepare and track procurement orders to ensure timely delivery.
• Monitor in-transit inventory to ensure smooth stock movement.
• Conduct store visits to monitor displays and gather product insights.
• Benchmark competitor stores for trend inspiration and stock-tracking.

Skills

Category planning

Vendor coordination

Inventory monitoring

Forecasting

Trend analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or related field

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description:

Objective:

The position is responsible for assisting in category planning, vendor coordination, and inventory monitoring to help achieve gross margin goals and maintain a healthy sell-through rate of 60% or above.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Range Support:

• Assist in the development of brand strategy through research and analysis of target customers and market positioning.
• Support category planning activities by analyzing performance, trends, and sales potential.
• Contribute to the seasonal purchase strategy by leveraging reports and historical data shared by the planning/merchandising teams.
• Participate in store grading to align product assortments across diverse store types (e.g., premium vs. value-focused).
• Assist in developing procurement strategies for seasonal sales using historical product performance.
• Support pricing decisions through competitive benchmarking and market intelligence.
• Coordinate with principals and suppliers for procurement under the guidance of the Buyer.

Order Management:

• Prepare and track procurement orders to ensure timely delivery in line with service level agreements and purchase plans.
• Monitor in-transit inventory to ensure smooth stock movement from supplier to warehouse.

Vendor Coordination:

• Support the Buyer in maintaining strong supplier relationships to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant deliveries.
• Follow up on supplier performance, delivery timelines, and contractual adherence.

Store & Visual Merchandising:

• Conduct store visits to monitor product displays and gather insights on product performance.
• Visit competitor stores for benchmarking and trend inspiration.
• Track stock levels and weeks of cover, raising alerts when stock adjustments are needed.
• Collaborate with store staff to collect feedback on customer preferences and product performance.

Market & Competition Awareness:

• Stay updated on fashion trends and evolving customer preferences in local and international markets.
• Track competitor activities, product offerings, and pricing strategies to support informed buying decisions.

Desired Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in retail or merchandising, preferably within a fashion or lifestyle brand.
• Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and basic ERP systems.
• Understanding of product strategy, vendor coordination, range planning, and trend analysis.
• Familiarity with market research, sales data interpretation, and forecasting techniques.
• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion, Retail Management, or a related field from a recognized institution.