Product Merchandiser

Company Description

At Loomkaari Studio, every design begins as a hand-drawn piece of art, brought to life by skilled Indian artisans. Rooted in tradition, Loomkaari specializes in creating timeless fabrics, rugs, and textiles that reflect the rich heritage of Indian craftsmanship. From the renowned looms of Bengal to the weaving communities of Rajasthan, every product represents centuries of cultural artistry. Our mission is to preserve and celebrate these time-honored traditions while crafting high-quality, unique designs for the modern world.

Job Title: Senior Product Merchandiser – Home & Textile Exports

(Merchandising + Buyer Development)

Experience: 4–7 Years

Industry: Home Furnishings / Textiles / Exports

Markets: USA, UK & Europe

Reporting To: Head of Exports / Business Head

Team Handling: Yes

Role Objective

The Senior Product Merchandiser will be responsible for driving buyer acquisition, managing enquiries, and growing export accounts, while overseeing the complete merchandising lifecycle—from product development and costing to production, quality, and shipment.

This role combines commercial ownership, buyer development, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibility Areas

1. Enquiry Generation & Buyer Development (Growth Ownership)

• Proactively identify and generate new buyer enquiries from US, UK, and European markets
• Leverage trade fairs, buyer references, B2B platforms, buying offices, and market intelligence
• Handle inbound and outbound buyer enquiries independently
• Prepare and present company capabilities, product ranges, and development proposals
• Build a qualified buyer pipeline and maintain enquiry tracking reports
• Convert enquiries into sampling programs and commercial orders
• Coordinate with management on target buyers and market expansion strategy

2. Buyer & Account Management

• Own and manage assigned buyer accounts end-to-end
• Act as the single point of contact for buyers, agents, and buying offices
• Lead commercial discussions including pricing, MOQs, development costs, and delivery terms
• Maintain strong buyer relationships to drive repeat business and long-term partnerships
• Represent the company in buyer meetings, presentations, and reviews

3. Product Development & Sampling Leadership

• Lead product development based on buyer briefs and market trends
• Translate buyer requirements into technically and commercially viable products
• Coordinate with design, sourcing, and sampling teams for timely execution
• Drive sample approvals and minimize re-sampling cycles
• Maintain seasonal development calendars and tracking

4. Costing, Margin & Commercial Control

• Prepare and approve accurate cost sheets aligned with target margins
• Negotiate pricing with vendors and buyers
• Monitor order-wise profitability and cost deviations
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization without impacting quality
• Support management in pricing strategies for new markets and buyers

5. Production, Quality & Order Execution

• Plan and track production timelines across multiple vendors
• Ensure raw material readiness and capacity planning
• Oversee quality standards, inspections, and corrective actions
• Proactively address risks related to delays, quality failures, or buyer escalations
• Ensure smooth order execution from PO to shipment

6. Shipment, Documentation & Compliance

• Oversee shipment planning and logistics coordination
• Ensure export documentation accuracy and compliance with buyer norms
• Monitor ETDs, ETAs, and delivery commitments
• Ensure adherence to international compliance standards (REACH, CPSIA, OEKO-TEX, etc.)

7. Team Leadership & Process Excellence

• Mentor and guide junior merchandisers
• Allocate workloads and monitor performance
• Implement SOPs, trackers, and reporting systems
• Drive continuous improvement in merchandising and buyer handling processes

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Metrics

A. Enquiry & Lead Generation KPIs

• Number of new buyer enquiries generated per quarter
• Enquiry-to-sampling conversion rate
• Sampling-to-order conversion rate
• Value of orders generated from new buyers
• Buyer pipeline size and movement
• Response time to new enquiries

B. Buyer & Revenue KPIs

• Repeat order rate from existing buyers
• Account growth (%) year-on-year
• Buyer satisfaction score / feedback
• Reduction in buyer escalations

C. Product Development KPIs

• Sample approval rate (first-round)
• Sample turnaround time vs target
• New SKU commercialization success rate

D. Commercial & Margin KPIs

• Gross margin achievement vs target
• Cost variance percentage
• Order profitability by account

E. Production & Delivery KPIs

• OTIF (On-Time In-Full) performance
• Production lead time adherence
• Reduction in delays and reworks

F. Quality & Compliance KPIs

• Quality rejection rate
• First-pass inspection success rate
• Compliance audit pass rate

G. Leadership & Process KPIs

• Junior merchandiser performance improvement
• Process efficiencies implemented
• Accuracy of reporting and documentation

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strong hunter + farmer mindset (new business + account growth)
• Commercially driven with excellent negotiation skills
• Comfortable interacting directly with international buyers
• Able to balance sales-oriented targets with operational discipline
• Proven ability to convert enquiries into long-term accounts