Merchandising / Buying
Assistant Manager Merchandising Trading - LFR
Bengaluru, India
SPEED & SPIRIT is what we look for in our candidates, defined by some simple values that inspire us to BE DRIVEN in our performance, BE VIBRANT in our sporting legacy, BE TOGETHER in our team spirit, and BE YOU to let our individual talent and experience shine. Applying for a job at PUMA is easy. Simply click APPLY ONLINE and follow the steps to upload your application.
At PUMA, every application is reviewed by real people who are committed to fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity - no matter your background, identity, or experience. To ensure our process stays true to these values, no automated systems or AI tools are used to make hiring decisions. Every decision is made by real people -with real judgment and accountability. We may use functions supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to carry out isolated organizational steps, such as scheduling interviews. These functions have no influence on decisions in the application process. We believe in creating spaces where everyone is welcome, celebrated, and empowered to contribute authentically. Because at PUMA, whoever wants to play, can play.
Your Talent
Eligibility Criteria And Functional Competencies Required:
- MBA / MFM / B.F.Tech from a reputed institute with 2–3 years of relevant experience in retail merchandising, trading, or planning.
- Strong proficiency in ‘Advanced Microsoft Excel’ is a must.
- Excellent analytical and numerical skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder management
- Self-motivated and driven; capable of working independently with minimal or no supervision.
- Ability to multitask and prioritize work based on business needs.
- Analytical and inquisitive mindset with a keen eye for detail.
- Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies/tools as required by the business.
- Interest in sports or active participation in any sport will be an added advantage.
Your Mission
Position Summary:
- Manage trading and allocation for PUMA counters across key Large Format Retail (LFR) accounts, including Centro, Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, and Fashion Factory.
- Lead a team of two traders (merchandisers), overseeing day-to-day operations and performance.
- Collaborate closely with sales, buying, and operations teams, maintaining a strong connection with the product line and customer trends to develop effective allocation strategies.
Key Objective:
In-Season Trading & Analysis:
- Responsible for ensuring the availability of the right stock at the right place and time, thereby enabling sales achievement.
- Collaborate with Visual Merchandising (VM), Retail Operations, and Sales teams to ensure seasonal rollouts are aligned and implemented as per plan.
- Ensure timely dispatch of incoming new season stock to respective stores as per the launch plan.
- Execute accurate replenishment and maintain healthy stock levels at the SKU level to avoid lost sales opportunities.
- Manage RTV (Return to Vendor) to the warehouse and facilitate stock consolidation between stores to reduce slow-moving merchandise and improve store assortment.
- Work closely with the buying team to ensure buys are placed in the right product types attributes based on forecasted requirements, store grading & banding and strategic inputs.
Assortment Planning & Performance Monitoring:
- Prepare seasonal assortment plans, ensuring the right mix at Division Category, MRP band, and product type level
- Monitor style performance through regular tracking of Rate of Sale (ROS) and Sell-Through.
- Prepare article-level discount lists during End of Season Sale (EOSS) to achieve planned net sales targets within the budgeted markdown percentage, while also meeting Gross Profit % targets.
- Drive weekly and monthly reporting and analysis; present insights during sales reviews and initiate necessary actions to achieve targets.
- Constantly aim to improve the efficiency of replenishment and allocation processes by refining the allocation inputs to maintain optimal SKU-level inventory.
- Collaborate closely with the retail sales team to identify operational gaps and implement corrective actions.
- Monitor daily business performance and profitability through key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Maintain optimal stock cover across stores.
Key Performance Indicators:
- Net Sales
- Gross Profit (GP) and GP%
- Sell Thru %
- Markdown (Discount%)
- Stock Cover
Organizational Relationships:
- Internal: Operations, Sales, Buying, Planning and Warehouse
- External: LFR partners
PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.
PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel, and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf, and stichd, operates in 120+ countries, and has around 22,000 employees worldwide.
