Ladieswear Buyer

Clothing Junction; Durban; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discounts

Career progression pathways

In-house training

Wellbeing days

Flexible hours

Job summary

Clothing Junction in Durban is seeking a senior Buyer to drive profitable sales through strategic product ranges, supplier management and range development. You will own end-to-end buying, analyze trade performance and lead cross-functional teams to deliver on seasonal objectives.

The role requires at least five years in fashion retail buying, strong Excel skills and a proven ability to negotiate margins while aligning with brand strategy and customer trends.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Buyer within a fashion retail environment.
• Proven experience in product development and range building.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience managing departmental sales, margin and stock performance.
• Proven supplier negotiation experience.
• Strong understanding of current trade analysis and retail KPIs.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Relevant qualification in Fashion, Retail Buying, Merchandising or a related field is advantageous

Responsibilities

• Develop commercially balanced seasonal assortments that meet customer needs while achieving sales and margin objectives.
• Research local and international fashion trends, customer behavior and competitor activity to identify product opportunities.
• Source and develop innovative products that deliver distinctive value and strengthen the Clothing Junction brand.
• Build product ranges that balance fashion, core and commercial product across all price points.
• Analyse current trade performance and take timely action to maximize sales, profitability and stock turn.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the department and implement appropriate trading actions.
• Monitor departmental KPIs including: Sales, Gross Margin %, Gross Profit, Stock Turn, Sell Through, Markdown Performance.
• Partner with Planning to ensure stock is effectively managed throughout the season.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, cost prices and product specifications to achieve required margins.
• Ensure supplier performance meets agreed quality, delivery and critical path requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement with suppliers to improve product, speed to market and value.
• Manage products through the full development cycle from concept through to delivery.
• Ensure all milestones within the critical path are achieved.
• Work closely with QA to ensure products meet required quality and fit standards.
• Resolve product issues quickly to minimise risk to delivery dates.
• Prepare and present: Seasonal Strategies, SWOT Analysis, Laydowns, Postmortems, Range Reviews.
• Make commercial recommendations using customer insights, trend analysis and trading performance.
• Work collaboratively with Planning, QA, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Suppliers, Distribution Centre.
• Ensure successful execution of product launches and promotional activities.
• Conduct regular competitor shopping and market research.
• Maintain an understanding of customer preferences and emerging fashion trends.
• Translate customer insights into commercially successful product ranges.
• Build strong working relationships across the business.
• Support and mentor Buying Assistants and junior team members where required.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Analytical ability

Planning and organisation

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Fashion/Retail Buying/Merchandising qualification

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

To drive profitable sales and margin growth by developing and executing commercially relevant product ranges that meet customer needs and align with Clothing Junction’s strategic objectives.

The Buyer is accountable for the end-to-end buying process, including product development, range planning, supplier management, current trade performance, and achieving departmental financial targets. The role requires strong commercial acumen, sound decision-making and the ability to react quickly to changing customer and market trends.

Responsibilities:

Product Strategy & Range Development

• Develop commercially balanced seasonal assortments that meet customer needs while achieving sales and margin objectives.
• Research local and international fashion trends, customer behavior and competitor activity to identify product opportunities.
• Source and develop innovative products that deliver distinctive value and strengthen the Clothing Junction brand.
• Build product ranges that balance fashion, core and commercial product across all price points.

Trading & Commercial Performance

• Analyse current trade performance and take timely action to maximize sales, profitability and stock turn.
• Identify risks and opportunities within the department and implement appropriate trading actions.
• Monitor departmental KPIs including:
  • Sales
  • Gross Margin %
  • Gross Profit
  • Stock Turn
  • Sell Through
  • Markdown Performance
• Partner with Planning to ensure stock is effectively managed throughout the season.

Supplier Management

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, cost prices and product specifications to achieve required margins.
• Ensure supplier performance meets agreed quality, delivery and critical path requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement with suppliers to improve product, speed to market and value.

Product Development & Critical Path

• Manage products through the full development cycle from concept through to delivery.
• Ensure all milestones within the critical path are achieved.
• Work closely with QA to ensure products meet required quality and fit standards.
• Resolve product issues quickly to minimise risk to delivery dates.

Strategic Planning

• Prepare and present:
  • Seasonal Strategies
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Laydowns
  • Postmortems
  • Range Reviews
• Make commercial recommendations using customer insights, trend analysis and trading performance.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with:
  • Planning
  • QA
  • Marketing
  • Visual Merchandising
  • Suppliers
  • Distribution Centre
• Ensure successful execution of product launches and promotional activities.

Market & Customer Focus

• Conduct regular competitor shopping and market research.
• Maintain an understanding of customer preferences and emerging fashion trends.
• Translate customer insights into commercially successful product ranges.

Leadership & Teamwork

• Build strong working relationships across the business.
• Support and mentor Buying Assistants and junior team members where required.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative, high-performing team culture

Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a Buyer within a fashion retail environment.
• Proven experience in product development and range building.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience managing departmental sales, margin and stock performance.
• Proven supplier negotiation experience.
• Strong understanding of current trade analysis and retail KPIs.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Relevant qualification in Fashion, Retail Buying, Merchandising or a related field is advantageous

Skills and Attributes:

Behavioral competencies

• Commercially driven
• Customer focused
• Strategic thinker
• Strong negotiation skills
• Results orientated
• Excellent planning and organisation
• Strong analytical ability
• High attention to detail
• Adaptable and resilient
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Accountable and takes ownership
• Collaborative team player
• Integrity and professionalism
• Passion for fashion and retail

Why Join Clothing Junction?

We pride ourselves on offering stability, growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment where your contributions directly impact our success.

Our Values:

• Ambition – We challenge ourselves to keep growing.
• Hustle – We know that consistent effort drives results.
• Resilience – We embrace challenges and learn from them.
• Team – Together, everyone achieves more.
• Opportunity – We look beyond today and create tomorrow.
• Teamwork – Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do.

Workplace Facilities and Convenience

• On-site canteen
• On-site coffee Barista
• Safe and convenient parking
• On-site car wash
• Relaxation / breakout areas (lounges, quiet rooms, outdoor seating)

Flexibility

• Flexible hours – choice of 2 shifts
• Early closure on a Friday

Personal and Professional Growth

• Study assistance
• In-house training
• Career progression pathways

Employee Wellbeing

• Wellness days
• Wellbeing activities (Zumba, mindfulness, sports events)
• On-site massage therapist

Recognition and Culture

• Staff discounts (from 1st day of employment) – Clothing Junction, SENQU and Victory Lab
• Rewards / long service awards
• Leave benefits: one additional day of annual leave per year worked from 5 years of service up to 10 years
• Employee recognition programmes
• Dedicated Culture Committee responsible for planning and driving regular staff initiatives
• Monthly staff initiatives (e.g. quiz afternoons, themed activities, wellness drives)
• Quarterly “Family Meetings” where the group’s companies share updates, progress on goals, and current initiatives
• Team building events
• Celebrations (birthdays, milestones, festive events)

Financial Extras

• Opportunity to earn performance incentives / bonuses – based on company results and individual KPI achievement
• Discretionary 13th cheque
• Annual increase – % based on individual KPI achievement

If you are passionate about fashion, have a strong commercial eye and a proven ability to develop successful product ranges, we encourage you to apply. Join our dynamic team and play a key role in shaping our ladieswear offering while contributing to the continued growth of our fast-growing business.

If you have not heard from us within 14 days of submitting your application, please consider your application as unsuccessful. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and wish you the best of luck in your job search.