Manager - Buying (Menswear)

Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited in Bengaluru is seeking a Manager - Buyer to drive profitable category growth through strategic merchandise planning, assortment management, inventory optimization, and market-driven product selection.

The role focuses on developing seasonal buying strategies, ensuring effective stock-to-sales management, maximizing category performance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver go-to-market initiatives for flagship and high-performing stores.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in Buying, Merchandising, Category Management, or Retail Planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop category-wise buying plans aligned with sales and margin targets.
• Monitor KPIs like sales, sell-through, stock turns and margin contribution.
• Plan inventory, optimise stock, and manage OTB and budgets.
• Collaborate with design, product, VM and logistics for go-to-market and launches.
• Create range architecture and assortment finalization.

Skills

Buying

Merchandising

Category Management

Retail Planning

Job description

Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Limited (ABLBL), a part of the Aditya Birla Group, is a leading branded apparel company with a comprehensive portfolio of marquee lifestyle brands. As of March 31, 2025, the Company operates a retail footprint of over 4.6 million sq. ft., comprising 3,253 exclusive brand outlets, presence across 38,000+ multi-brand outlets, and over 7,000 shop-in-shops in department stores across the country. The Company’s brand portfolio includes India’s most established and trusted names – Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, and Peter England – each with a legacy of over 25 years. These brands have consistently delivered sustained growth, driven by a sharp focus on design-led innovation, category expansion, and operational excellence across product lines spanning formal, casual, and occasion wear. ABLBL has built a strong presence in the innerwear and athleisure market through Van Heusen Innerwear, which has rapidly scaled its distribution network across India. The Company’s portfolio is further enhanced through strategic partnerships with leading international brands including Simon Carter, American Eagle and Reebok. American Eagle has emerged as one of India’s most preferred premium denim brands, while Reebok – transitioned under the Company’s management in 2022 – has expanded its footprint across multiple channels. Simon Carter continues to strengthen its position in the premium menswear segment through its distinctive design language and curated collections.

About the Job Role

The Manager - Buyer is responsible for driving profitable category growth through strategic merchandise planning, assortment management, inventory optimization, and market-driven product selection. The role focuses on developing seasonal buying strategies, ensuring effective stock-to-sales management, maximizing category performance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver successful go-to-market initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category-wise buying plans aligned with sales and margin targets.
• Establish Average Retail Price (ARP) targets across product categories.
• Create option plans and conduct depth analysis to optimize assortment productivity.
• Formulate seasonal Stock-to-Sales (STS) plans, including Beginning of Month (BOM) and End of Month (EOM) inventory levels.
• Manage Open-to-Buy (OTB) calculations and budget allocation.
• Plan and execute commercial assortments and flash lines based on emerging fashion and consumer trends, especially for high-performing (A+) stores.
• Ensure the right mix of products, price points, and options across stores.

2. Category Target Planning & Performance Management

• Break down monthly sales targets into category and product-level objectives.
• Monitor target versus achievement and identify corrective actions.
• Prepare merchandise planning reports and category performance dashboards.
• Analyze product performance on a Like-to-Like (LTL) basis and provide actionable insights.
• Track key merchandising KPIs such as sales, sell-through, productivity, stock turns, and margin contribution.

3. Inventory Management

• Maintain optimal stock cover across all product categories.
• Monitor inventory health and ensure dormancy levels remain within defined norms.
• Manage pullback and stock redistribution activities to improve inventory productivity.
• Analyze weekly sell-through performance and prepare detailed reports.
• Conduct photo sell-through reviews to assess product performance and visual effectiveness.
• Drive inventory optimization through proactive stock management strategies.
• Develop product category-wise dispatch and replenishment plans.
• Track planned versus actual dispatches and take corrective actions as required.
• Create store-wise allocation plans based on sales trends, size curves, and inventory requirements.
• Monitor allocation effectiveness and ensure timely product availability.
• Collaborate with planning and logistics teams to ensure efficient product flow across stores.
• Conduct regular competitor benchmarking and category analysis.
• Track competitor product launches, promotional activities, pricing, and visual merchandising initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, customer preferences, and upcoming fashion movements.
• Forecast category opportunities and recommend new product introductions.
• Support merchandising, product, and VM training initiatives for retail teams.

6. Core Business Contribution

• Drive and enhance the category's contribution to overall business performance on a Like-to-Like (LTL) basis.
• Identify growth opportunities through category expansion, new product introductions, and assortment optimization.
• Partner with Design and Product teams to identify and introduce commercially viable styles and collections.
• Monitor category profitability and ensure achievement of business objectives.

7. Range Architecture & Product Strategy

• Develop seasonal range architecture aligned with business goals and consumer demand.
• Create category-wise option grids leveraging historical performance data and market insights.
• Collaborate with Product and Design teams on range building and assortment finalization.
• Ensure product portfolios align with target consumer segments, pricing strategies, and seasonal trends.
• Incorporate learnings from previous seasons into future assortment planning.

8. Integrated Go-To-Market (IGTM)

• Lead category planning for successful seasonal and promotional launches.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising (VM), Design, Marketing, and Retail teams to develop compelling GTM stories.
• Support key store execution to establish launch standards and best practices.
• Ensure seamless rollout of seasonal concepts and product stories across all stores.
• Monitor launch performance and recommend optimization opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5-8 years of experience in Buying, Merchandising, Category Management, or Retail Planning.
• Strong exposure to apparel, fashion retail, lifestyle, or organized retail environments.
• Experience in inventory planning, assortment planning, and category management is preferred.