Equipment Buyer - Outdoor at Cape Union Mart

Job Description

• A new opportunity is available in our Buying Department for a resilient, innovative and resourceful Buyer who can add value to our Outdoor Equipment Team through the successful development and procurement of Camping and Hiking Equipment for Cape Union Mart.
• Our ideal candidate will have the ability to significantly contribute towards the achievement of our department and business objectives as well as have the high energy levels required for this fast-paced, highly pressurized and dynamic retail environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Development and procurement of Camping, Hiking and other categories
• Execution of the merchandise strategies in alignment with the departmental and business objectives
• New product selections in line with market research and trends
• Negotiations and supplier relationship management
• Various reporting on product and category performance
• Understanding the local and international Camping and Hiking environment and the competitors therein in order to ensure relevancy and competitiveness within the market
• Collaborate with Online team to maximise the online shopping experience
• Collaborate with marketing to ensure compelling messaging to the target customer

Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications Required

• Grade 12 certificate and a relevant tertiary qualification is required
• Experience in Camping and Hiking retail environment is advantageous
• 3-5 years of retail merchandise buying experience is essential.
• Working knowledge of the retail cycle and merchandise buying principles and processes. Understanding and experience in retail planning principles and processes is advantageous
• A clear understanding of the Camping and Hiking retail environment
• A working knowledge of the latest Microsoft packages is required

Job Related Competencies

• A passion for keeping up to date with Camping and Hiking equipment trends
• The ability to remain flexible and adapt merchandise strategies to match trends as they change in our different target markets
• Proven negotiation skills
• Strong trader mentality
• Proven strategic thinking skills in order to make sound decisions together with effective problem-solving skills
• Ability to build and maintain influential relationships at various levels and across business functions
• Effective communication and presentation skills essential
• Proven planning, & time management skills
• The agility and resilience to maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure