Buying & Merchandising Manager

About Us

Founded in 1998, United Legwear & Apparel Co. (ULAC) is a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of apparel, legwear, bodywear, bags, backpacks, headwear, and accessories. As a joint venture partner of PUMA North America and licensee of various renowned brands such as Hurley, Skechers, Ted Baker, Scotch & Soda, and more, ULAC operates globally with headquarters in New York City and offices in various locations, including London.

Our mission is to treat our stakeholders with respect, integrity, and fairness while delivering high-quality products. Our core values—Unity, Loyalty, Advancement, and Charity—guide our operations.

About The Role

As a Buying & Merchandising Manager at ULAC, you will lead the buying and merchandising strategies for the Ted Baker brand, ensuring our product range reflects the brand’s identity and meets consumer demand across multiple markets, including the UK and Europe. You will work closely with planning, partner merchandisers and licensee sales teams to manage inventory planning, and merchandising, ensuring products are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with seasonal trends.

We are looking for someone who is analytical yet creative, with a strong understanding of fashion trends, customer preferences, and market dynamics. This role requires both strategic thinking and an ability to manage day-to-day operational tasks.

What You’ll do:

Buying Strategy and Product Development:

• Lead the development of seasonal buying strategies in line with brand guidelines and market trends.
• Manage the product selection process, collaborating with partners and licensee sales teams to ensure a commercially viable assortment that aligns with the Ted Baker brand identity.
• Ensure products meet price, quality, and sustainability standards.

Merchandising Planning:

• Develop and implement merchandising plans that maximize sales and profitability.
• Analyse sales performance, inventory levels, and market trends to inform product allocation and replenishment strategies.
• Work with the planning team to manage stock levels, ensuring optimal inventory management across all channels.

Vendor and Supplier Management:

• Build and maintain relationships with key partners, vendors and suppliers, negotiating terms, pricing, and lead times to ensure timely delivery and cost efficiency.
• Monitor supplier performance to ensure quality standards and production timelines are met.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Collaborate with design, sales, marketing, and logistics teams to deliver cohesive product launches and seasonal collections.
• Partner with finance to forecast and manage the product budget, ensuring alignment with financial goals.

Performance Analysis:

• Conduct detailed sales and margin analysis, identifying key product drivers and areas for improvement.
• Use data insights to make recommendations on product assortment, pricing, and promotional strategies.
• Track and report on KPIs such as sell-through rates, stock turn, and markdown performance.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Experience with merchandising and planning software.
• Experience working with design and inventory management tools.
• Strong understanding of retail math, financial metrics, and forecasting.
• Knowledge of e-commerce platforms (Shopify preferred) and omnichannel retail.

Personal Traits:

• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing cross-functional teams.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong commercial awareness and a keen eye for trends and market shifts.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.