The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the womens market, have excellent strategic and negotiation skills, and be able to drive the buying process from start to finish. As the leader of the buying team, you will ensure that our product offerings reflect the latest trends, meet customer demand, and align with our brand vision.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, has an inherent passion for womens fashion, and is excited to shape the future of the buying strategy for a leading brand.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy Development: In partnership with the Executive, develop and execute a comprehensive product portfolio strategy aligned with the company's objectives, ensuring consistency and relevance across the product lifecycle, handwriting and execution.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with internal teams, including Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Supply Chain, to ensure alignment and consistency in execution.
- Performance Monitoring: Establish relevant KPIs to measure and monitor product performance in terms of sales, inflows, margins, GP rands and optimising strategies based on data-driven insights.
- Systems: Utilise relevant buying systems to support and enable performance.
- Leadership: Effectively lead the buying team for the relevant portfolio.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to Buying, Planning, Logistics and Stores
- Knowledge of specific company buying strategies
- Understanding of retail business systems and related processes IT
- A comprehensive knowledge/understanding of SAs retail clothing market, customers, and competitors.
- An understanding of relevant trends with a flair/eye for product for the relevant target market
- Relevant product knowledge with regards to styling constructions
- An understanding of product components
- Awareness of relevant legal and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and mitigate risks
- Understanding of crisis management principles and practices to anticipate and mitigate potential brand crises, as well as to respond effectively in the event of a crisis to protect the brand's reputation
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation
- Strategic thinking and analytical abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt quickly to changing priorities and market conditions
- Strong leadership skills to inspire and guide the buying team, fostering cross functional collaboration and driving results
- A commercial mindset to develop innovative and impactful product strategies
- Experience in managing budgets effectively, allocating resources to maximise ROI
- Continuously seeking opportunities for innovation and differentiation, to maintain a competitive edge
- A relevant degree/qualification in Fashion/Textile Design/Clothing Production/Product Development/Merchandising, or a related field
- Proven experience of 3-5 years in a retail buying management capacity (preferably in woman/ladies category)
- Strong leadership and management skills
- Strong negotiation skills with suppliers to secure competitive pricing and favourable terms.
- CFE experience essential
- Extensive travel required
