Latest Jobs at Ackermans

• Our Trend & Design team is on the lookout for a Footwear Design Specialist! In this role, you'll be responsible for researching and interpreting trends to create stylish, on-point footwear designs that align with our customers' needs. You'll work closely with the team to ensure that every piece offers the perfect balance of price and value. If you’re passionate about shoes and love staying ahead of the latest footwear trends, we’d love to have you join us!

Key Responsibilities:

• Trend research - Interpreting relevant trends for specific department (including seasonal themes, colour, print direction, key looks and key items)
• Collaborate with Buyers to provide input into Range Builds
• Translate the trend seasonal direction into customer appropriate fashion ensuring that key stakeholders in the business have a clear understanding of how to apply the trend to their portfolios
• Collaborate with Buyers on product development
• Draw up product CADS and Tech Packs
• Briefing graphic designers
• Interpret trend and design and SBU strategy into operational plans
• Deliver operational plans and processes aligned to strategy
• Continuously keep abreast of updates to these trends through understanding our customer sales
• Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration and alignment with Buying and Product Technology departments for effective execution of Company strategy
• Continuously flag in-season international retail shifts keeping latest Ackermans sales and customer preferences top of mind, highlighting new test and category opportunities.

Skills required:

• Global trends collected, researched and filtered in line with the Ackermans brand positioning (seasonally, monthly and continually).
• Awareness of global, local and holistic trends ensured.
• Good strategic, conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of South African retail landscape
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong eye for fashion and detail with the ability to predict, analyse & monetize future retail and fashion trends for local customer
• The ability to research and provide mood, colour, print and silhouette direction, drawing from many sources of influence including runway, street, retail, culture, art, social media and trend services.
• Appropriate trends, items, colour, styling, materials and patterns proposed and prepared in an exciting, understandable and appropriate format.
• The above presented and work-shopped with buying teams in a style that is credible, convincing and persuasive.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
• All communication demonstrated in an in-depth trend knowledge coupled with a business understanding.
• Strong relationship building and influencing skills
• Excellent time management, organizational and administrative skills and presentation skills
• High energy level and is performance-driven and deadline-orientated
• Creative with an eye for detail, analytical and systematic, passionate about fashion
• Flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work
• Multi-task and to deal with complexities, use initiative to solve problems
• Work independently, as well as be a team player, strong interpersonal skills

Knowledge of:

• The retail merchandise cycle with regards to buying
• Technical knowledge / product construction of Footwear
• The knowledge on how to stay abreast of emerging macro trends, micro trends and cultural phenomenon and consistently communicate these trends to all levels, both within as well as outside the Company

Essential:

• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in footwear design

Qualifications:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
• Relevant Degree (e.g. Fashion Design) or Diploma
   

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• We are seeking a talented Product Technologist to join our team. Your role will involve providing critical technical support by maintaining and enhancing the consistent quality of our products and processes, aligning with the company's overall product strategy.
• If you're passionate about delivering high-quality products and have a keen eye for detail, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Key Responsibilities:

• To accurately assess products against company standards and specifications in accordance with the critical path to ensure consistent compliance across all        departments and suppliers
• To maintain, communicate and issue standards and product specifications
• To review and provide insights regarding necessary product specification adjustments in accordance with Company strategy

Knowledge required:

• Relevant legislation (e.g. Country of Origin Labelling Act)
• Knowledge of SABS standards
• Supplier base knowledge 
• Related services – Distribution Centres, Customer Care, Marketing, Stores, Information Technology, Shipping, and Packaging
• Understand Retail Business critical path 
• Retail Business processes (S.O.P.’s)
• Departmental (Product Technology) processes and standards
• Product Technology objectives and strategies

Skills required:

• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills
• The ability to communicate business expectations effectively to suppliers and technical information to non-technical audiences
• Effectively represent the company to external customers, suppliers and stakeholders
• Excellent accuracy and attention to detail
• Analytical skills
• Sound planning, organising & time management skills
• Good networking, interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Negotiating skills
• Good conflict management skills
• Work independently, as well as be a team player
• Excellent command of the English language, verbally and in writing

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

Experience required:

• 3 years manufacturing experience (preferably within a clothing environment)
• or 3 years retail experience in product technology with exposure to a broad range of clothing
• Experience working with merchandise suppliers to ensure good product quality and practices
• Experience in product fit and measuring requirements
• Experience in assessing samples and advising on fit for purpose, fit and technical    outcomes
• Experience in 3D pattern design would be advantageous 
• Outwork (printing, dye-house, fabric mill) exposure
• Experience in garment laboratory testing
• Exposure to production floor, work study and process engineering
• Exposure to textile dyeing, printing and finishing processes
• Exposure to general attachments to specialised manufacturing units
• Exposure to product washes / dyeing processes
• Exposure and/or experience in production quality auditing of textiles
• Exposure to textile development
• Exposure to automation/manufacturing machinery
• Experience in product specific manufacturing, pattern making & grading
• Exposure to pressing, ironing and fusing
• Computer literacy including programs such as Microsoft 365
• Relevant experience in production-related health and safety practices

Essential Qualifications 

• Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
• National Diploma in clothing/fashion design /clothing management OR
• Bachelor's degree in Consumer Science or similar

Preferred Qualifications 

• Certificate in Fibres and Fabric
• Proficient in Adobe Design Suite (Acrobat, Illustrator, In-design & Photoshop)
• Diploma/Degree in Packaging Technology from the Institute of Packaging South Africa
   

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JOB PURPOSE:

• To add value to the Company in driving product profitability, by providing exceptional Merchandise insights to relevant stakeholders and to govern and support the Company merchandise plans in line with the Merchandise Strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Governance of Company Product Plans
• Reviews market share data and provide insights.
• Provides input into 5-year company plans (Pre-Season)
• Provides visibility of all KPI's impacting the proposed plan
• Reporting on deviations (in season)
• Highlight risk and drift to our plans at seasonality level continually during merch cycle
• Tracks compound annual growth
• Highlighting calendar shifts to Business (weekly)
• Analysis and Merchandise Insights
• Providing accurate basket insights to all SBU's leading up to Strategic Intent upon request
• Analyze RLC data
• Provides insight to stakeholders to review and compare market sales (monthly)
• Provides insights on strategic initiatives Character
• Communicate effectively to influence Merchant teams based on insights gathered to ensure the Company merchandise strategy is impacted positively.
• Reporting
• Reporting monthly on Management pack
• Weekly Merchandise deck on product performance
• Adhoc reporting based on business need
• Communicate effectively to relevant stakeholders ensuring in line with Simplicity
• Continuously and creatively enhance the method of reporting to ensure we remain relevant to our internal Customer
• Governance of Planning processes and policies
• Maintaining product hierarchy and ensure compliance in line with the company naming policy  (Bi-annually and before strategic intent)
• To effectively govern, create and update product planning processes and polices across the merchandise divisions.
• Actively identifying and addressing pressure points in Company policies and processes.
• Identifying and documenting new planning processes and policies to ensure Governance

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Essential:

• A minimum of 3+ years of Product experience within a clothing retail environment
• Working experience in planning systems such as Merchandise Financial Plans
• Working experience in the latest Microsoft packages (Word, PowerPoint & Advanced Excel)

Preferred:

• Experience working in planning systems such as Assortment Planning, & and replenishment (2-3 years)
• Exposure to Business Intelligence Systems
• Exposure to Basket analysis
• Previous exposure to and understanding of logistics and supply chain processes

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Excellent numerical skills
• Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills
• Merchant skills & a sound commercial mentality
• Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Planning, organising & time management skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Create a shared vision and to positively influence others to make decisions
• Communicate effectively at all levels
• Be self-motivated/driven, take responsibility and have a sense of pride in one’s work
• Work independently, as well as be a team player
• Pay attention to detail
• Remain focused and flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude

The ability to be:

• Resilient, have tenacity and maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure
• Methodical, detail-orientated and accurate
• Assertive
• Deadline-orientated
• Proactive and use one’s own initiative

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Essential:

•  A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
• B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics and/or Business Science OR
• National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and/or Cost and Management Accounting OR
• National Diploma in Financial Information Systems OR
• National Diploma/ degree in Business/Retail/Merchandise Management or Accounting/Finance 

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of the Retail merchandise cycle in terms of Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
• Knowledge of the retail and merchandise planning processes
• Knowledge of seasonal & replenishment products
• Knowledge of the SA retail clothing market, customers, and competitors
   

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• An exciting and dynamic opportunity has opened for a Visual Merchandising Specialist at our Support Centre in Kuilsriver. The successful individual will be tasked with executing Ackermans Visual Merchandise Business Plans and enhancing the customer experience in our stores by overseeing the Seasonal Look and Promotional Manual processes.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of VM best practices and principles, techniques and VM trends as well an excellent grasp of customer behaviour.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent comprehension of the marketing strategies, branding, customer behaviour and principles relevant to value retailing, as well as a practical grasp of the South African industry.
• Working knowledge of electronic and print communications

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Excellent organizational, planning, project management and time management expertise.
• Attention to detail
• Self-reliant and results orientated
• Well-developed interpersonal skills
• A strong creative flair
• Excellent budgeting skills
• Effective problem-solving abilities with the ability to think out of the box
• Practical thinking style

The ability to:

• Translate VM specifications into the specific store environments and displays
• Evaluate research, market conditions, competitor data and implement marketing plan alternations as needed.
• Work well under pressure and with tight deadlines
• Computer Literacy (Word, Excel, Advanced, PowerPoint)
• Basic Design Platform literacy (Illustrator, SketchUp, Photoshop)
• Overseeing the DTP process

EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• A minimum of 2 years Visual Merchandising experience in a role with exposure to the budgeting process

Preferred: 

• Exposure within a Marketing environment would be advantageous

QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• Grade 12/ Matric
• A tertiary qualification in Visual Communication Design or equivalent

Preferred:

• A qualification in PR/Visual Communication would be advantageous

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy interpretation and implementation:

• Responsible for executing Ackermans VM strategy
• Lead effective merchandising of stock to encourage maximum sales.
• Promote healthy business relationships between Operations, Marketing & SBU’s through constant alignment
• Provide user-friendly and simplistic store implementation guidelines

Manage the seasonal look manual process through:

• Research
• Offering practical and relevant advice/solutions to the internal stakeholders
• Liaising with relevant internal and external stakeholders to produce and communicate the Seasonal Look Manual.

Manage the monthly promotional process through:

• Research
• Offering practical and relevant advice/solutions to the internal stakeholders
• Agile response to market trends and business needs
• Liaising with relevant internal and external stakeholder to produce and communicate the Monthly promotional manual.
• Promotional and seasonal POS specification maintenance (amendments/ evolving specifications)
• Overseeing the DTP process.

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• The purpose of this P27 role is to deliver exceptional customer shopping experience through stock replenishment, merchandising, housekeeping and efficient processing of transactions at till points. 
• If you are self-motivated, passionate about performance and have the high energy level required for this fast-paced, exciting and dynamic retail environment, consider this to be an opportunity to invest and grow your career.

Knowledge Skills & Experience

• Excellent customer service skills 
• Communication skills – fluent in English (any other language would be beneficial 
• Tenacious 
• High energy levels 
• Highly motivated and target driven Experience
• Previous retail experience would be advantageous 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide excellent customer service to give customer a great shopping experience - Assist shoppers to find the goods and products that they are looking for - Attend to customer queries / complaints 
• Cashier duties - Process cash and card payments - Process Lay Bys - Process customer refunds - Reporting discrepancies and problems to the supervisor - Till balancing 
• Merchandising - Ensure that stock is correctly priced and displayed - Ensure product availability of the sales floor - Housekeeping - Keeping up to date with promotions 
• Risk - Ensure that products are tagged in line with the company policy - Participating in stock takes - Be on the lookout for shoplifters and fraudulent activities and report any suspicious behaviour to Management 
• Consistently live the Ackermans values & policies and procedures in all aspects of your work.

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Minimum requirements

• You will represent and be a custodian of the brand of our store
• Be energetic and a self-starter
• Two (2) years retail experience which includes at least one year in a supervisory and or management position
• Outstanding merchandise management , stock and cost control skills
• The capacity to maintain high store standards
• A proven ability to influence and lead a team
• You will have a keen development orientation in that you will be inspired to develop yourself and fellow team members
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (written and verbal) and competence in a second official language would be a definite advantage
• Grade 12 or equivalent
• Further qualifications related to retail/business will be an advantage

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• Are you detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about logistics? Join our Supply Chain team as an Inbound Clerk and play a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations!

Key Responsibilities:

• Inbound Freight clearing: Timeous completion of clearing instructions, liaising with Finance, capturing and checking import orders.
• Costing: Ensuring receipt of all service provider invoices, checking details of service providers, completing and processing costings.
• Packing: Furnishing our distribution centres with correct packing information.
• Shipment control: Obtaining clearing documentation from Suppliers in line with compliance and rectifying where needed.
• Custom stops: Work with relevant stakeholders on query orders, requesting daily updates, capturing relevant invoices and maintenance of shipment files.

What We’re Looking For:

SKILLS 

• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities to ensure clear and effective collaboration.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and other departments.
• Independent & Teamwork Skills: Capable of working independently but also contributing effectively to a team environment.
• Sense of urgency: Able to meet tight deadlines and prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Numerical Ability: Above-average proficiency with numbers for managing quantities, stock levels, and invoices.
• Work Under Pressure: Proven ability to perform well in fast-paced environments.
• High Volume Handling: Ability to process and manage large volumes of work without compromising accuracy.
• Attention to Detail: Keen eye for accuracy in tasks, especially in verifying incoming shipments and managing inventory records.
• Computer Skills: Proficiency with standard software, with intermediate Excel skills (data entry, sorting, basic formulas, etc.)

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential:

• Minimum of 2 years in a shipping department preferably in a retail company.
• Knowledge of Customs, tariffs, air and sea freight. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Essential:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric (with Accounting and Mathematics)

Preferred:

• School of Shipping certificate/diploma
• Customs certification
• Financial Diploma
   

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• We are looking for a resilient and hard-working team player to provide effective and accurate administrative and general assistance to the Ackermans Buyers. 

Knowledge & Experience required:

We are looking for someone who:

• Has an understanding of the Clothing Retail Cycle & Buying process
• Has worked on a Buying/PLM system or similar 
• Has excellent attention to detail
• Has managed or worked with apparel samples or product catalogues
• Communicates effectively both within, as well as outside the Company
• Builds and maintain relationships
• Is proficient in the latest Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Can prioritise well and be assertive
• Is proactive, deadline driven and flexible to adapt to change
• Has sound planning, organizing and time management skills
• Is fast and accurate with regards to processing and checking detail
• Is able to be “hands on” when the buyer is travelling

Key responsibilities:

To execute all administration relating to the procurement process:

• Tendering processes
• Preparation of discussion documents
• Capture & monitor purchase orders
• Style cards & sample management
• Assist with managing on-time delivery by following-up on all samples

To provide general assistance to the Buyer/s with:

• Preparation of business plans 
• Preparation for all merchandise related activities that require product to be pulled, sorted, ordered and hung
• Suppliers queries (emails & calls), mark-downs & general administration
• To communicate and follow-up effectively with all relevant internal and external customers
• To effectively manage all samples throughout the entire merchandise cycle. 

Qualifications required:

• Matric (Essential)
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Retail/Fashion/Administration or related field (Preferred)

Experience required:

• Previous experience (minimum 2 years) in an Administrative / Assistant role (preferably in a corporate Retail/Buying environment).

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Job Purpose:

• Leading your CRM team to manage and optimize marketing campaigns from concept to deployment across multiple channels. 
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless execution, contributing to Direct Marketing communication strategies through innovative design, targeting, segmentation, personalization, testing, analysis, and optimization. 
• Furthermore, coordinating campaign activities to enhance ROI, leveraging customer data to maximize campaign response, and reporting on campaign and data initiatives to stakeholders.