Assistant General Manager - Buying for Lifestyle Appliances Category

Role Overview

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) for the Lifestyle Appliances category is accountable for managing overall category performance by handling end-to-end buying, planning, and vendor coordination. This role guarantees product availability, competitive pricing, margin achievement, and punctual promotional activities by effectively implementing category strategies in partnership with merchandising, marketing, and store teams. The AGM also aids in new product introductions, supplier negotiations, and maintaining stock health to boost growth across physical and online sales channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive annual targets for category sales, gross margin, and inventory turnover according to business plans.
• Implement detailed category strategies including assortment management, SKU curation, pricing tactics, and range optimization.
• Conduct monthly assessments of financial outcomes, inventory status, and identify performance variances.
• Assist in demand forecasting, setting performance goals, and monitoring results across outlets and sales platforms.
• Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competition promptly for strategic alignment.
• Identify and onboard vendors domestically and internationally, focusing on Tier 2 and 3 brands considering quality, pricing, and product relevance.
• Lead negotiations on pricing, margins, contract terms and promotional collaborations within the assigned category.
• Manage contracts, vendor rebates, initiatives to enhance sell-through, and exclusive product launches.
• Oversee supplier performance metrics such as fill rate, delivery timelines, service standards, and compliance with procurement guidelines.
• Maintain rigorous commercial standards including documentation thoroughness, claim processing, and reconciliation activities.
• Monitor inventory health metrics such as stock ageing, open-to-buy limits, and replenishment cycles.
• Coordinate forecasts with merchandising and supply chain to ensure stock availability aligns with demand.
• Execute liquidation strategies, markdowns, and support clearance of stagnant or obsolete inventory.
• Guarantee accurate pricing implementation, ensuring cost precision, discount structuring, and effectiveness of special offers.
• Review merchandise distribution to secure presence in top-performing physical and digital outlets.
• Partner with marketing teams to design and implement category-focused campaigns and sales promotions.
• Prepare stores and e-commerce channels for promotions ensuring stock readiness, planogram alignment, and product visibility.
• Select key SKUs for advertising prioritizing business objectives, availability, and promotional potential.
• Analyze return on investment of promotional activities and monitor post-campaign outcomes to improve future plans.
• Enforce promotional discipline by validating offer terms, signages, and ensuring adequate stock coverage.
• Collaborate closely with multiple departments to guarantee precise execution of category responsibilities.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures related to buying, vendor handling, and pricing policies.
• Provide inputs for business reviews, merchandising discussions, and collaborative planning meetings.
• Support skill enhancement within teams focusing on data analysis, vendor communication, and commercial strategy formulation.
• Contribute to adoption and improvement of systems/processes aimed at increasing procurement efficiency.