Role Purpose:

The role of the Fabric Merchandiser is to monitor development and bulk fabric approvals, manage fabric CP and greige for both bulk and salesman sample orders with the aim to achieve at least 90% handover on time. Assist with fabric price negotiations.

Impact:

Bulk Orders:

· Establish good relationships with suppliers and the UK buying team.

· Approve bulk fabric before shipping to garment factories both domestically and for export to Bangladesh.

· Ensure bulk fabric meeting required testing standards.

· Maintain colour continuity files ensuring colour does not vary across batches and season.

· Support QC team with finding solutions if fabric does not meet colour or testing approval, and work with fabric suppliers to deliver on solution.

· Update fabric schedules with approvals and Garment CP’s with approval comments.

· Work with the Production team to communicate issues with bulk fabric approvals and consider the impact on delivery.

· Update PO data from buy minutes (projected) and after each buy (confirmed) on the greige log, ensuring good availability of core fabrics.

· Consult with the Production Manager regarding greige following buy meetings

· Manage and update the fabric and garment critical path regularly.

· Hold weekly team meetings with the UK merch team and QC team to discuss the critical path and any issues, making relevant suggestions on how to resolve.

· Maintain and review on-time delivery records monthly.

· Liaise continuously with the UK Production, and PD teams

Colour/Print

· Work with SMS team to request lab dips for all local and nominated fabrics.

· Lab dips to be processed in a timely manner throughout the season & lab dip log/files kept fully up to date. Any issues to be communicated to the wider product team to ensure no delays in fabric production.

· Responsible for pushing through colour & strike off approvals in line with the corporate calendar, ensuring a commercial eye.

· Monitor supplier performance & work with them on an improvement plan. Target for 70% of lab dips to be approved on 1stsubmit, 100% on 2nd submission.

· Issue print artworks to fabric suppliers and work with UK design team to ensure fabric suppliers are fully briefed on requirements. Support design team with print comments.

Fabric development

· Support and work closely with the fabric development team & relevant mills / factories to ensure corporate calendar dates are met.

· Work with fabric development team to ensure new fabrics meet testing requirements.

· Attend local trade fairs under instruction from UK based development team to source new fabrics and suppliers.

Pricing:

· Participate in seasonal Buy Sum handover from the Buying team, understanding confirmed prices.

· Liase with Merchandisers to communicate any changes in fabric prices that may effect garment FOB.

· Support buyers with seasonal price negotiations.

· Work with fabric suppliers to reduce MOQ and print surcharges.

Salesman Samples:

· Place, monitor, and coordinate Salesman Sample fabric orders. Monitor range amends to ensure all changes are actioned in a timely manner.

· Approve bulk SMS fabric before shipping to garment mills, ensuring any issues are communicated to PD/Merch team.

· Monitor SMS fabric CP ensuring on time delivery against corporate calender dates. Update fabric delivery dates to garment factories via e-mail and CP’s. Only stop monitoring when fabric has arrived in garment factory.

· Hold weekly meetings with the salesman sample team, including product development and the relevant manager, to discuss range updates and action those updates.

· Instruct suppliers on the transport method based on timescales and cost.

· Communicate regularly with the imports team to ensure on-time SMS fabric delivery.

· Sign off SMS invoices with Head of Buying and check all costs accurately to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Buying Trip Preparation:

· Accompany UK colleagues on buy/QC trips when visiting Chinese suppliers, if necessary.

· Assist with trip arrangements, including itinerary completion, hotel bookings, visa applications, and meeting arrangements.

· Update the ‘points of discussion’ document accordingly.

· Create the ‘gold silver bronze’ scoring sheet with all relevant areas completed.

· Generate and contribute to the supplier delivery performance document.

Sourcing:

· Sourcing enquiries conducted when needed

Required Language Skills:

· English: Proficient in both written and spoken English to effectively communicate with the UK-based team and international suppliers.

· Mandarin: Proficient in both written and spoken Mandarin to liaise with local suppliers and manufacturers in China.

· Additional Languages: Knowledge of other languages is a plus but not essential.

Performance Indicators:

· Adherence to corporate calendar deadlines

• Excellent communication skills.
• Achieving 90% on-time deliveries for SMS and bulk orders.

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