Retail Junior Buyer

Toys R Us and Babies R Us South Africa; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Toys R Us and Babies R Us South Africa is seeking a Junior Buyer – Babies Department to support the Category Manager with buying, supplier management and stock analysis. The role focuses on the Baby Hards Local portfolio, ensuring safe, high quality and competitively priced products for parents.

The Junior Buyer will assist with range selection, supplier communications, and promotional execution, while developing broader merchandise capabilities as part of the department's succession plan.

Qualifications

• Basic to intermediate negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Strong analytical ability with an understanding of sales, GP, margin, stock turn, sell-through, weeks cover, rate of sale and markdowns.
• Ability to identify sales, stock and range opportunities/issues.

Responsibilities

• Track and analyse sales, GP, margin, stock turn, aged stock, weeks cover and rate of sale.
• Support OTB monitoring and identify stock and sales opportunities.
• Analyse promotional performance and competitor pricing.
• Highlight top sellers, slow sellers, out-of-stocks and potential risks.
• Support range planning, product selection, samples and range reviews.
• Research baby trends, competitors and new product opportunities.
• Monitor product life cycles and assist with markdown and exit recommendations.
• Ensure ranges meet the needs of parents across different baby development stages.
• Manage day-to-day supplier communication and follow up on orders, deliveries, samples and outstanding actions.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Stock analysis

Range planning

Merchandising

Excel

Retail systems

Outlook

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

Retail systems

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Introduction

Welcome to the Toys R Us world of awwwesome, where we want your little ones imaginations to run free!

Toys R Us and Babies R Us are well established international brands.

Commonly referred to as the “World’s Greatest Toy Stores”, Toys R Us SA currently boasts 50+ physical stores, two of which are located in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia, as well as an ALL NEW AWWWESOME online store.

The key focus of the group is to ensure that customers, young and old, from children to grandparents, are offered an amazing range and experience, complimented by great value! Are you a dynamic and passionate individual who will ensure exceptional customer satisfaction and excellent store performance?

Then we are looking for a Junior Buyer – Babies Department who would like you to join our team!!

Role Purpose

The Junior Buyer supports the Category Manager/Buyer in achieving sales, GP, margin and inventory targets, with particular focus on the Baby Hards Local portfolio.

The role supports range selection, buying, supplier management, stock analysis, system administration and promotional execution, ensuring products are safe, high quality, competitively priced and relevant to the needs of parents and babies.

The role requires strong commercial awareness, analytical ability, attention to detail, urgency and organisational skills, while providing an opportunity to develop broader merchandise capability as part of the department's succession plan.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Basic to intermediate negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Strong analytical ability with an understanding of sales, GP, margin, stock turn, sell-through, weeks cover, rate of sale and markdowns.
• Ability to identify sales, stock and range opportunities/issues.
• Strong attention to detail and administrative accuracy.
• Good understanding of baby products, development stages and parent needs, ideally with relevant category experience.
• Customer-focused approach, understanding the importance of safety, trust, value and advice in baby retail.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and Pivot Tables, and proficiency in retail systems and Outlook.
• Excellent organisation, time management and sense of urgency.
• Strong communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
• Awareness of baby trends, new products, brands and competitor activity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial & Stock Analysis

• Track and analyse sales, GP, margin, stock turn, aged stock, weeks cover and rate of sale.
• Support OTB monitoring and identify stock and sales opportunities.
• Analyse promotional performance and competitor pricing.
• Highlight top sellers, slow sellers, out-of-stocks and potential risks.

Range & Product Management

• Support range planning, product selection, samples and range reviews.
• Research baby trends, competitors and new product opportunities.
• Monitor product life cycles and assist with markdown and exit recommendations.
• Ensure ranges meet the needs of parents across different baby development stages.

SKU & System Management

• Accurately load and maintain product, supplier, cost, retail and SKU information.
• Process listings, delistings, price changes and promotional updates.
• Ensure new products are listed accurately and within required deadlines.
• Monitor SKU counts and core product availability to minimise lost sales.

Supplier Management

• Manage day-to-day supplier communication and follow up on orders, deliveries, samples and outstanding actions.
• Assist with supplier meetings, performance reviews and negotiations.
• Follow up on claims, rebates, co-op advertising and other supplier-related matters.

Quality & Compliance

• Support compliance checks, particularly for safety-critical baby products such as car seats, strollers and cots.
• Track customer complaints, store feedback and quality issues and elevate concerns promptly.

Marketing & Cross-Functional Support

• Work with Marketing to ensure product information, pricing, photography and promotional details are accurate.
• Ensure promotions align with stock availability and launch dates.
• Collaborate with Planning, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Operations and Stores to resolve stock and delivery issues.

General Responsibilities

• Manage multiple suppliers, orders, promotions, launches and deadlines while maintaining accuracy.
• Take ownership of assigned tasks and proactively follow up to ensure deadlines are met.
• Maintain confidentiality of company and commercial information.
• Complete required training and participate in performance and development reviews.
• Work closely with the Category Manager/Buyer to develop broader merchandise and category management capability as part of the succession plan.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as required by the Category Manager.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Accurate and timely SKU, product and system administration
• Achievement of listing, launch and promotional deadlines
• Effective supplier follow-up
• Quality and timeliness of sales and stock analysis
• Minimising avoidable out-of-stocks and lost sales
• Support of sales, GP, margin and inventory targets
• Effective range, promotional and markdown execution
• Compliance with product safety requirements
• Strong cross-functional communication and teamwork
• Demonstrated growth in commercial and category management capability