As we know, merchandising can be like apparel merchandising, fashion merchandising, and retail merchandising. Merchandising is the intermediary position between buyer and manufacturers aimed at ensuring the shipment at the right time with the right quality. Merchandiser, in fact, takes all the responsibilities concerned with the apparel order. Apparel merchandising can be performed both from the factory position and the buying representatives. The goal of both merchandisers is the same to ensure the quality goods on time. However, there is a slight difference between the role & responsibilities of a buying house merchandiser and a factory merchandiser. In buying house, the overall responsibilities are sub-divided into various sections like development unit, quotation unit, production unit, sourcing unit, etc. though it varies from buyer to buyer. But as a whole, the role & responsibilities of a buying Merchant are as follows-
Role & responsibilities of a buying Merchandiser
👉Communicating with buying team through the mail, and over the phone for day to day update and new queries. Sometimes has to discuss issues on the video conferences.
👉Receiving new development orders from the buying team and take the necessary actions accordingly.
👉Meeting with vendors/suppliers and explaining new development requirement to the vendor team.
👉Making the T&A for the new orders to track the progress carefully.
👉Making progress report for new season samples and production orders.
👉Collecting the garment samples at different stages (eg.- development, proto, pre-production, production sample), trims & accessories, fabric swatches, fabric hanger from vendors.
👉Submission of garment samples and trims & accessories, fabric swatches, fabric hanger to buying team through courier for approval.
👉Doing regular follow up with vendors for samples and other submissions.
👉Doing regular follow up with the buying team for approval and comments.
👉 In some cases, giving approvals (on samples, swatches, hangers, trims & accessories) where buyer approval is not required.
👉Doing weekly progress meeting with the vendor team and giving feedback about buying team’s latest comments on a particular style or order to the vendor team.
👉Doing weekly progress meeting with the buying team (over phone or video conference) to give updates of all stages of production and development.
👉Execute the running production orders and visit the vendor site (factory) when necessary.
👉Sourcing and preparing materials for new development.
👉Price negotiation both with buying team and vendors.
👉Selection of vendor with the highest profit margin and best quality.
👉Selection of best vendors for the upcoming orders based on the vendor’s experience of making similar products or seeing their product portfolio.
👉Costing with trims & accessories suppliers and select for particular order.
👉Handling of quality issues with the help of the technical team both for sample and production.
👉Open and send L/C to the vendor after order confirmation.
👉Preparing inspection schedule for shipment and notifying to the quality department in the buying house or third party QA.
👉Updating the Time and Action calendar on a regular basis.
👉Link up with shipping department for updates of shipped orders.
👉Maintaining file for keeping a record of each individual order.
Conclusion
Usually, merchandisers have to perform a huge variety of tasks and their responsibilities cannot be defined exactly in number. They do whatever required to meet the buyers’ requirements. Ensuring the buyers’ satisfaction by providing quality goods at the right price at the right time is the ultimate goal of a merchandiser. Furthermore, building a healthy relationship with the buyers is another very important task of a merchandiser as a business is not merely selling the goods once rather building a long-term relationship to ensure the sustainable business.
