Buyer

Job Summary

The Footwear Buyer is accountable for selecting the product that will be sold in South Africa. With a given budget, the Buyer is tasked with picking products for both owned and operated retail, as well as Wholesale partners, based on the demand and the trends in the industry.

Key Responsibilities

Buying Strategy

• Attend brand seasonal sales meetings and other relevant travel requirements.
• Select from the pre-existing range, making intuitive selections that best suit the SA customer.
• Become and remain the regional subject matter expert in terms of product features, specifications, and categorisation.
• Understand the brands current wholesale and retail strategy and make recommendations in developing product strategies and range building in line with the business vision.
• Maintain strong awareness of the commercial potential of product in the market from a price point of view and assist in developing appropriate pricing structures.
• Be a trend specialist in skate/surf/lifestyle
• Assist Planner in identifying sales patterns for future seasons and place forecasts and orders for the SA market.
• Build and segment product ranges that best align with the brands DTC and Wholesale strategies

Operational Partnerships

• Building and maintaining a close working relationship with global partners
• Building and maintaining a close working relationship with Wholesale partners, knowing and understanding their business’s needs.
• Manage the delivery of samples, and maintain responsibility for the sample management, sample room and showrooms.
• Work with marketing, sales, and Planning to set up promotions to drive underperformers to clear stock.
• Conduct sell-ins promoting new, fresh seasonal product to Retail and Wholesale clients.
• With the sales and marketing functions, assist in managing the full GTM process. This includes planning, co-ordinating and developing plans that directly support the sell-in process for both existing and new accounts (catalogues, pricelists, delivery dates, showroom prep, marketing support)
• Conduct post seasonal analysis with merch and planning team.
• Ensure that buy-plans are well detailed and clearly understood by team members and relevant stakeholders.
• Meet range development deadlines in order to ensure supplier deadlines are met.
• Manage Stock levels (Capacities) within DTC and Outlet alongside planning and suggest opportunities for trade
• Assist Retail Ops team in the opening of any new stores with specific focus on stock planning.
• Ensure along with Visual Merchandiser and Retail manager that product is displayed in all stores according to brand Standards and according to the correct capacities.
• Conduct regular trade visits with retail ops team for DTC, building and maintaining relationships with staff.
• Conduct regular trade visits to wholesale doors and provide detailed feedback to the relevant teams.

 Reporting and Analytics

• Develop and continually evaluate all reports in order to monitor stock arrival in SA, sales, history, seasonal sales analysis, aged inventory etc.
• Report on inventory tracker
• Assist in global forecasts
• Feedback market trend information to the team and suggest best merchandising practice to maximise turnover.
• Become a Sync expert in creating catalogues, presentations and updating product information across seasons.
• Develop and continually evaluate all reports in order to establish sales history, seasonal sales analysis, aged inventory & liquidation plans etc.
• Review relevant historical information and make recommendations to management and Wholesale customers for product segmentation in stores.

     Requirements:

• Relevant Degree (BCom) or related Diploma in Retail Management/Planning/Supply Chain/Merchandise Management
• 3 – 5 years’ experience in a similar role
• Knowledge of an ERP system

    Critical Competencies:

• Strategic agility and able to articulate the vision and purpose of the brand.
• Experience working with a dynamic, diverse, and highly motivated team.
• Dynamic with strong presentation skills
• Strong Excel skills
• Highly numerate, analytical, and detailed orientated

Company Perks & Benefits

• You get to work for a rapidly expanding distributor with aspirational brands
• Gym & Shower facilities
• Personal Trainer
• Yoga
• Pension Fund
• Medical aid with Gap cover
• Staff Allocation (R10 000 Retail Value per annum).
• Staff discount (50% off for you and your family across all the brands within the group)
• Healthy Lunch subsidy
• Company performance incentive scheme
• Long-service incentives
• Holistic Employee Wellness programme
• The group prides itself in its effort to drive continuous employee engagement activities to enable a connected culture.  

Please consider your application to be unsuccessful should you not here back from us after 2 weeks.