Job category: Other: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain
Location: Cape Town
Contract: Permanent
EE position: No
Introduction
To build a customer-focused and profitable seasonal product strategy that aligns with the company strategy and brand filter, ensuring it is trend-appropriate and commercially viable. You will oversee the journey from product conception to in-store execution, ensuring a balanced range. Deliver on-brand product execution that resonates with our customers. Collaborate with key stakeholders including Planning, Design, Sourcing & Production, Marketing and Sales to meet sales targets and KPIs. Additionally, you will manage, coach and mentor Buyer 1 and the Buyers Assistant, fostering growth and excellence within your team.
Key Responsibilities
- Seasonal Plan Execution:
Develop and execute a seasonal plan in collaboration with Planning, Sourcing, and Design, ensuring alignment with KPIs and strategic objectives. Present seasonal plans focused on key categories and channel considerations. - Product Range Development:
Lead workshops to design a profitable, on-brand product range that meets customer expectations, considering trends, international benchmarks, and growth/exit strategies. Partner with Design and Sourcing to manage product development, supplier selection, costing, and tech pack approvals, ensuring alignment with critical path milestones. - Customer Insights & Market Research:
Conduct market and trend research using tools to analyse competitors and customer preferences. Collaborate with Marketing to understand customer insights and propose strategies to optimize the in-store and online customer experience. - Trading the Range:
Conduct weekly sales analysis to monitor performance and drive trade decisions. Work closely with Sourcing and Planning to adjust strategy, suggest promotions and address product performance. Communicate trade-driven changes to other departments. - People Leadership:
Mentor and develop Buyer I and Buyer’s Assistant, ensuring skills transfer, career development and performance management. Support new ways of working and the adoption of systems and processes. - Stakeholder Collaboration:
Build strong relationships with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure smooth product development and execution.
Minimum Requirements
- A relevant degree/qualification in Fashion, Textile Design/Product Development/Merchandising, or a related field.
- 5-8 years buying experience is essential.
- Homeware Buying experience preferred.
- Proven track record of leading product development and buying strategies in homeware or fashion retail.
- People management and coaching skills, ability to manage self, buyer and buyer's assistant.
- Computer literate with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, PLM.
- Knowledge of current trends and proven ability to interpret trends and conceptualise products.
- Strong administratively, proactive and well-structured ways of working.
- Excellent understanding of market, awareness of locally and international with a creative flair to interpret forthcoming moods, trends and themes.
- Demonstrates the ability to think strategically and formulate effective plans and strategies.
- 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.
- Proven experience in delivering and executing business and BU strategy.
- Ability to travel both locally and internationally.
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