Main purpose:
- The buyer oversees choosing products that will be sold in South Africa. With a given budget, the buyer is tasked with picking products for the store based on the demand and the trends in the industry.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITY 1: BUYING STRATEGY
- Attend seasonal sales meetings and travel as required, selecting products that suit the SA customer for optimal range development
- Become the regional expert on product features, specifications, and categorization.
- Establish shipment plans and identify cost-reduction opportunities through OOR reconciliation
- Understand wholesale and retail strategies and recommend product strategies and range building aligned with the business vision.
- Monitor product pricing and assist in developing competitive pricing structures
- Assist Planner in identifying sales patterns, placing forecasts, and orders for the SA market.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITY 2: OPERATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
- Manage sample deliveries to Head Office and oversee inventory until handover to the relevant merchant
- Collaborate with marketing, sales, and Planner to set up promotions to clear underperforming stock
- Conduct sell-ins to promote new products to Retail and Wholesale clients
- Manage the GTM sales process with sales and marketing, including planning, sales tools, and trade marketing support.
- Review previous season's merchandise with Planner to identify successes and areas for improvement
- Select relevant samples for the South African market.
- Ensure clear buy-plans are well communicated to the team and stakeholders.
- Meet range development deadlines to ensure supplier timelines are adhered to.
- Manage stock levels according to orders
- Assist Retail Ops team with stock planning for new Brand House store openings
- Ensure product displays in stores meet brand standards with the Visual Merchandiser and Retail Manager.
- Ensure accurate ship dates to ease cash flow
KEY ACCOUNTABILITY 3: REPORTING AND ANALYTICS
- Develop and evaluate reports on stock arrivals, sales, seasonal analysis, and aged inventory
- Report on inventory tracker and forecasting data.
- Provide market trend feedback and suggest merchandising practices to boost turnover
- Assist in IT system mapping for order management, logistics, buying, POS, and tracking tools
- Review sales history and seasonal analysis, suggesting liquidation plans where needed.
- Analyse historical data and provide recommendations for product segmentation in stores.
- Build and manage a consumption tool to adjust plans across channels early
COMPETENCY PROFILE
(Skills, knowledge, abilities, attributes, and behaviours that are required to do this specific job well
KEY LEADERSHIP & INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCIES
(Behaviours that enhance the desired culture, values, and the pursuit of the core purpose of the business
VALUES:
- We believe in the power of brands and growing brands responsibly.
- We believe in developing and building our teams for the benefit of all stakeholders.
- We believe in continuous investment into our people and our business platforms.
- We care deeply about our environment and our people
LEADERSHIP & RELATIONSHIP BEHAVIOURS
- Collaborative Leadership: Work with teams (marketing, sales, planning) to align on product strategies.
- Clear Communication: Ensure transparent communication with teams, suppliers, and stakeholders.
- Negotiation Skills: Negotiate with suppliers to secure favourable terms while building strong relationships.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain strong relationships to ensure products meet market needs and business goals.
- Team Development: Support and guide junior team members for professional growth.
- Customer Focus: Ensure products meet customer demands and maintain satisfaction.
- Adaptability: Adjust strategies based on market feedback and trends.
- Problem-Solving: Address challenges with creative solutions to ensure smooth processes.
- Conflict Resolution: Manage conflicts professionally within teams or with suppliers.
- Results-Driven:Focus on achieving sales targets, product quality, and profitability
TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
(Specific technical, functional, and professional skills, knowledge, abilities, attributes, and aptitudes that are required to be able to do this particular job well relative to the delivery of the Main Purpose and Key Accountabilities
- Market Knowledge: Understanding of market trends, customer preferences, and competitor offerings.
- Product Selection: Ability to curate product ranges that meet consumer demand and brand goals.
- Pricing Strategy: Developing competitive pricing strategies to drive profitability.
- Supplier Management: Sourcing, negotiating, and managing supplier relationships.
- Data Analysis: Analysing sales data and trends to guide purchasing decisions.
- Inventory Management: Managing stock levels and minimizing overstock/stockouts.
- Retail & Wholesale Strategy: Aligning product buying strategies across retail and wholesale channels.
- Campaign Collaboration: Working with marketing teams to support promotional initiatives.
- Financial Acumen: Managing budgets and forecasting for product procurement.
- Tech-Savvy: Proficiency in purchasing software and data analysis tools
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Relevant Degree or Diploma in Commerce (BCom), Retail Management, Merchandise Management, Supply Chain, Buying or a related field
Experience
- 3+ years’ experience in a Buyer or Junior Buyer role within a retail, wholesale or consumer brand environment
- Proven experience in range building, product selection and seasonal buying cycles
- Hands‑on experience working with budgets, forecasts and sales performance inputs
- Experience collaborating with Planning, Sales and Marketing teams
- Exposure to managing suppliers, samples, pricing and product launches
Industry Knowledge
- Strong understanding of retail buying principles, including product lifecycles, range architecture and seasonal trading
- Working knowledge or ERP or buying systems used for ordering, stock management and tracking
- Strong numeracy with the ability to analyse sales data, forecasts and inventory performance
- Advanced Excel capability for reporting, analysis and buy‑plan management
- Understanding of pricing, margin and cost considerations within a retail environment
- Market and trend awareness within relevant product categories
- Strong attention to detail with an analytical and commercially minded approach
- Ability to communicate effectively, present ranges and collaborate with cross‑functional teams
- Demonstrated agility and adaptability within fast‑paced retail environments
Closing Date 06 July 2026
Gmail
Yahoomail