Merchandise Manager

York Exports; Ludhiana; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

York Exports in Ludhiana, Punjab, invites a Merchandising Manager for Flat & Fine Knits. The role leads the merchandising function, coordinating with knitting, fabric, sampling, production and dispatch to ensure smooth order execution.

You will manage buyer communications, costing, and lead a team of merchandisers, driving on-time shipment while maintaining quality and cost targets. 10-15+ years preferred; strong knitting knowledge essential.

Qualifications

• Graduate or post-graduate in textile/fashion merchandising or related field.
• Experience in garment manufacturing/export merchandising is required.
• Strong knowledge of fabrics, knitting, costing and samples.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the merchandising function for Flat & Fine Knits; ensure order execution from development to shipment.
• Coordinate with knitting, fabric, sampling, production and QA/QC teams to meet buyer specs.
• Maintain buyer relationships, negotiate pricing and delivery timelines, and manage T&A calendars.
• Oversee costing, fabric selection, and commercial aspects to ensure competitive pricing.

Skills

Strong Buyer Communication

Buyer Relationship

Fabric Knowledge

Knitting Knowledge

Garment Manufacturing

Order & Production Merchandising

Costing & Consumption

Sampling & Development

T&A Planning

Team Leadership

Education

Graduate / Post Graduate in Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Merchandising

Diploma/Degree in Garment Technology

Tools

Excel

ERP

Merchandising Software

Job description

Merchandising Manager Flat & Fine Knits

Department: Merchandising
Designation: Merchandising Manager Flat & Fine Knits
Industry: Garment Manufacturing / Export
Reports To: General Manager / Director / Head of Merchandising
Location: __________
Experience: 8–12+ Years in Garment Manufacturing / Export Merchandising

1. Job Purpose

To lead and manage the merchandising function for Flat Knits and Fine Knits, ensuring smooth execution of buyer orders from order development and costing through fabric/knitting, sampling, production, quality, and final shipment.

The position requires strong international/domestic buyer communication, fabric and knitting knowledge, commercial understanding, buyer relationship management, and team leadership.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Buyer Communication & Relationship Management

• Act as the primary communication point between the company and assigned buyers.
• Maintain professional and strong relationships with buyers and buying houses.
• Handle buyer queries related to styles, fabrics, colours, costing, sampling, production, quality and shipment.
• Understand buyer requirements, specifications, quality standards and delivery expectations.
• Conduct regular communication with buyers through email, calls, meetings and online platforms.
• Negotiate prices, delivery schedules, development timelines and other commercial matters.
• Ensure timely response to buyer comments and approvals.
• Develop long-term relationships with existing buyers and support business development with new buyers.
• Handle buyer complaints professionally and coordinate corrective actions.

B. Fabric & Knitting Knowledge

• Strong practical knowledge of Flat Knits and Fine Knits.
• Knowledge of knitting structures, yarns, GSM, gauge, fabric composition and fabric construction.
• Understanding of single jersey, rib, interlock, pique, fleece, terry, jacquard and other relevant knit structures.
• Knowledge of yarn selection, yarn count, blends and their effect on garment quality and costing.
• Understand fabric shrinkage, spirality, skewness, pilling, colour fastness and other fabric quality parameters.
• Coordinate closely with knitting, dyeing, finishing and fabric suppliers.
• Ensure fabric is developed according to buyer-approved specifications.
• Identify fabric-related production risks at the development stage.

C. Order & Production Merchandising

• Handle orders from development to shipment.
• Prepare and monitor T&A (Time & Action) calendars.
• Follow up on PO/order confirmation, BOM, fabric, trims, samples and approvals.
• Coordinate with PPC, Production, QA/QC, Cutting, Stitching, Finishing and Dispatch departments.
• Monitor production progress against planned delivery dates.
• Identify delays and take corrective action proactively.
• Ensure buyer-approved specifications are followed throughout production.
• Maintain proper order-wise records and status reports.
• Ensure on-time shipment and minimize order delays.

D. Sampling & Development

• Coordinate development of proto, fit, size set, PP, TOP and shipment samples as applicable.
• Review buyer tech packs, measurement charts, construction details and comments.
• Coordinate with sampling and technical teams to achieve first-time-right samples.
• Follow up on sample approvals and buyer comments.
• Ensure all corrections are incorporated before bulk production.

E. Costing & Commercial

• Prepare and review garment costing based on:
• Fabric consumption
• Yarn/fabric cost
• Knitting cost
• Dyeing/processing cost
• Trims and accessories
• Washing/finishing
• CMT/production cost
• Packing and other applicable costs
• Analyze fabric consumption and wastage.
• Negotiate with suppliers and internal departments to achieve competitive costing.
• Ensure correct costing before submitting prices to buyers.
• Monitor cost changes during order execution.

F. Team Management

• Lead, guide and supervise the merchandising team.
• Allocate buyers/styles/orders among merchandisers according to capability and workload.
• Set clear targets for the merchandising team.
• Review daily/weekly order status with team members.
• Train junior merchandisers on buyer handling, product knowledge, costing and order execution.
• Monitor individual team performance and productivity.
• Resolve internal coordination issues and ensure smooth teamwork.
• Develop a responsible and result-oriented merchandising team.

G. Cross-Functional Coordination

Coordinate effectively with:

Knitting Dyeing Fabric CAD/Design Sampling PPC Cutting Sewing Finishing QA/QC Packing Dispatch

• Ensure all departments receive correct and updated information.
• Conduct regular follow-up meetings for critical orders.
• Escalate major production, quality, fabric or delivery issues to management immediately.

3. Key Skills & Competencies

Must-Have Skills

• Strong Buyer Communication
• Excellent Buyer Relationship Management
• Strong Fabric Knowledge
• Strong Knitting Knowledge – Flat & Fine Knits
• Garment Manufacturing Knowledge
• Order & Production Merchandising
• Costing & Consumption Knowledge
• Sampling & Development
• T&A Planning & Follow-up
• Team Handling & Leadership
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Negotiation Skills
• Excellent Email & Communication Skills

Technical Knowledge

• Tech Pack reading and interpretation
• Measurement/specification understanding
• Fabric GSM, composition, gauge and construction
• Yarn count and yarn consumption
• Fabric consumption and wastage
• Garment construction
• Quality requirements
• Buyer approval process
• Production planning and follow-up
• Excel / ERP / merchandising software

5. Educational Qualification

• Graduate / Post Graduate in Textile, Fashion, Apparel, Merchandising, or related field preferred.
• Diploma/Degree in Garment Technology, Textile Technology or Fashion Technology will be an advantage.

6. Experience

• 10–15+ years of experience in garment manufacturing/export merchandising.
• Strong experience in Flat Knits and Fine Knits is preferred.
• Experience handling international buyers/buying houses will be highly preferred.
• Minimum 10-125 years in a supervisory/managerial merchandising role.

7. Personal Attributes

• Strong ownership and accountability
• Buyer-focused approach
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong follow-up capability
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong analytical and commercial mindset
• Proactive problem solver
• Good negotiation skills
• Leadership and team-building capability
• Ability to manage multiple buyers and orders simultaneously

8. Overall Responsibility

The Merchandising Manager will be responsible for ensuring buyer satisfaction, profitable order execution, timely sampling, fabric and knitting coordination, production follow-up, quality compliance and on-time shipment, while effectively managing and developing the merchandising team.

The ideal candidate should be a strong communicator with buyers, technically sound in fabrics and knitting, commercially capable, and an effective team leader.