Buyer at Ares Holdings

Key Responsibilities

Buying Strategy

• Attend brand seasonal sales meetings and other relevant travel requirements.
• Select from the pre-existing range, making intuitive selections that best suit the SA customer.
• Become and remain the regional subject matter expert in terms of product features, specifications, and categorisation.
• Understand the brands current wholesale and retail strategy and make recommendations in developing product strategies and range building in line with the business vision.
• Maintain strong awareness of the commercial potential of product in the market from a price point of view and assist in developing appropriate pricing structures.
• Be a trend specialist in skate/surf/lifestyle
• Assist Planner in identifying sales patterns for future seasons and place forecasts and orders for the SA market.
• Build and segment product ranges that best align with the brands DTC and Wholesale strategies

Operational Partnerships

• Building and maintaining a close working relationship with global partners
• Building and maintaining a close working relationship with Wholesale partners, knowing and understanding their business’s needs.
• Manage the delivery of samples, and maintain responsibility for the sample management, sample room and showrooms.
• Work with marketing, sales, and Planning to set up promotions to drive underperformers to clear stock.
• Conduct sell-ins promoting new, fresh seasonal product to Retail and Wholesale clients.
• With the sales and marketing functions, assist in managing the full GTM process. This includes planning, co-ordinating and developing plans that directly support the sell-in process for both existing and new accounts (catalogues, pricelists, delivery dates, showroom prep, marketing support)
• Conduct post seasonal analysis with merch and planning team.
• Ensure that buy-plans are well detailed and clearly understood by team members and relevant stakeholders.
• Meet range development deadlines in order to ensure supplier deadlines are met.
• Manage Stock levels (Capacities) within DTC and Outlet alongside planning and suggest opportunities for trade
• Assist Retail Ops team in the opening of any new stores with specific focus on stock planning.
• Ensure along with Visual Merchandiser and Retail manager that product is displayed in all stores according to brand Standards and according to the correct capacities.
• Conduct regular trade visits with retail ops team for DTC, building and maintaining relationships with staff.
• Conduct regular trade visits to wholesale doors and provide detailed feedback to the relevant teams.

 Reporting and Analytics

• Develop and continually evaluate all reports in order to monitor stock arrival in SA, sales, history, seasonal sales analysis, aged inventory etc.
• Report on inventory tracker
• Assist in global forecasts
• Feedback market trend information to the team and suggest best merchandising practice to maximise turnover.
• Become a Sync expert in creating catalogues, presentations and updating product information across seasons.
• Develop and continually evaluate all reports in order to establish sales history, seasonal sales analysis, aged inventory & liquidation plans etc.
• Review relevant historical information and make recommendations to management and Wholesale customers for product segmentation in stores.

     Requirements:

• Relevant Degree (BCom) or related Diploma in Retail Management/Planning/Supply Chain/Merchandise Management
• 3 - 5 years’ experience in a similar role
• Knowledge of an ERP system

    Critical Competencies:

• Strategic agility and able to articulate the vision and purpose of the brand.
• Experience working with a dynamic, diverse, and highly motivated team.
• Dynamic with strong presentation skills
• Strong Excel skills
• Highly numerate, analytical, and detailed orientated