Job category: Other: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain
Location: Cape Town
Contract: Permanent
EE position: No
Introduction
You will be responsible for building a customer-focused, profitable seasonal product strategy that aligns with the department’s goals and brand vision. You will ensure ranges are trend-appropriate, commercially viable and resonate with our customers, overseeing the entire journey from product conception to in-store execution. Your aim is to deliver an on-brand product offering that not only meets customer expectations but also drives sales growth and profitability.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and Execute a Seasonal Plan: Collaborate with Planning, Design, and Sourcing teams to create a strategic product, fabric, and trading plan. Use global and local trend insights, customer analytics and competitor intelligence to drive product direction and present seasonal product plans highlighting key strategic areas and must-win categories.
- Build a Profitable Balanced Range: Build a trend-appropriate product range that aligns with customer expectations and departmental goals. Work closely with the Design team on styling, fabric and colour choices, ensuring the range fits within the agreed price architecture and meets critical merchandise milestones.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Sourcing team on product development, supplier selection, costings and technical requirements. Collaborate with Technical Product Development to ensure sample approvals, product reviews and final presentations are aligned with the critical path milestones.
- Customer Understanding & Competitive Intelligence: Work closely with Marketing to understand our customers through quarterly updates, customer analytics and online reviews. Conduct market and trend research to stay ahead of competitors and ensure product differentiation across various channels.
- Active Product Trading: Analyse weekly sales performance reports to identify opportunities and make informed trade decisions. Collaborate with the Quad team on production updates, supplier communications and trade actions to ensure smooth execution.
Minimum Requirements
- A relevant degree/qualification in Fashion, Textile Design/Product Development/Merchandising, or a related field.
- 4-6 years relevant buying experience (Homeware Buying experience preferred).
- Sound knowledge of material, fabric and product development is crucial.
- Passion for keeping up to date with latest homeware trends.
- Proven ability to interpret trends and conceptualise products.
- Computer literate with proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and PLM.
- Strong administratively, proactive and well-structured ways of working.
- Understanding of business and buying processes and systems.
- Retail market and industry knowledge.
- Knowledge of markdown and mark up pricing, visibility to drive sales, sell-through.
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