Merchandiser - Footwear

Job description / Role

Key responsibility:

• Assist in developing merchandise plans for categories based on historical trends, sales performance, and future outlooks provided by the brand team.
• Analyze store profiles using key reports such as stock weeks, sales blend, and inventory by grade to support allocation decisions.
• Execute in-season stock analysis and balancing, markdown management, and stock vs. sales performance reviews.
• Plan merchandise mix and execute initial allocations and reserve management based on pre-distribution plans.
• Finalize seasonal assortment plans and size run books in collaboration with the senior merchandiser.
• Monitor competitor brands product lines, pricing, and category developments.
• Ensure compliance with stock ageing standards and maintain stock turns in line with company policy.
• Support margin negotiations, order placements, and stock distribution decisions.
• Monitor bestsellers and slow movers, taking timely actions to drive performance.
• Track actual sales versus forecasts and coordinate inventory checks and replenishments based on store-level needs and upcoming events.
• Conduct regular market visits with the brand manager to assess store execution and gather competitor intelligence.
• Provide post-season feedback reports on product categories.
• Participate in seasonal markdown and sales planning in collaboration with the category/brand manager.

Desired experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in retail merchandising or a similar role within the fashion or lifestyle industry.
• Proficient in inventory management systems, MS Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong understanding of product strategy, vendor coordination, range development, and trend analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Retail Operations, Merchandising, or a related field is preferred.

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.