The first Woolworths store opened its doors to the public in Cape Town in October 1931. And it was founder Max Sonnenberg who captured the public’s imagination with dynamic store policies that set Woolworths apart from its competitors.
Three years later, a second branch opened in Durban, with another two in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg a year later. And...
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To strategically curate and deliver a balanced product range that aligns with the evolving needs and preferences of Woolworths customers. Ensure exceptional value and relevance for both current and potential shoppers. You will drive the product strategy to ensure the collections are aligned with fashion trends, customer demands and business goals, thereby maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Strategy Development: Analyse sales performance and market data to inform buying decisions and shape future strategies. Collaborate with leadership to align the buying strategy with the wider Group objectives, driving profitability and growth.
Market Research & Trend Interpretation: Stay ahead of global and local fashion trends by conducting extensive market research. Use this data to curate collections that resonate with our customer base while maintaining a focus on innovation and sustainability.
Product Procurement & Range Planning: Lead the end-to-end procurement process of seasonal ranges, coordinating across departments to ensure seamless execution from design to delivery. Optimise product assortments to ensure they meet customer demands and business goals.
Supplier Negotiations: Establish strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating competitive cost prices to deliver value for money. Ensure selling price points and primary margin targets are consistently achieved without compromising on quality.
Quality Assurance & Style Consistency: Uphold the highest quality standards across all products, ensuring each piece reflects the brand's signature look, feel, and style. Champion our commitment to delivering premium-quality apparel that customers love.
Critical Path Management: Ensure adherence to critical timelines for product development, buying, and range launches. Mitigate risks and manage any challenges that could impact the timely delivery of the range.
Business Growth & Product Innovation: Collaborate with designers and the product development team to create unique, trend-forward pieces that differentiate us in the market.
Team Leadership & Development: Lead and mentor Assistant Buyers and Buyer’s Assistants.
Key Competencies
Relevant retail/ business qualifications
5-8 years buying experience is essential
Previous womenswear buying experience preferred
Experience in wash, fit, construction, product development, and manufacturing
Creativity, taste and flair: ensure that ranges are balanced and offer real choice to our customers
Passion for Product / Merchandise
Negotiation and influencing skills
Merchant and retail ability demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the marketplace, competitors and customer needs
Business acumen
Team Player: ability and will to work co-operatively with others within a team and across departments towards a common objective
Results driven and proactive
Entrepreneurial
Effective communication and presentation skills
Ability to present a well-balanced range
Tolerance to change / ability to work under pressure
Computer literate: ability to operate in a Windows-based environment
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