Senior Retail Buyer

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 970,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch is seeking a strategic Senior Retail Buyer to source, select, and negotiate merchandise to meet customer demand and profitability. You will analyze trends, manage supplier relationships, and contribute to category strategies in a fast-paced retail environment.

The role emphasizes strong negotiation, data-driven decision making, and a keen eye for product opportunities in the Stellenbosch market.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Retail Buyer or senior merchandising role.
• Experience negotiating favorable terms with suppliers.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret sales data and market intelligence.
• Excellent understanding of retail math, inventory management, and forecasting techniques.
• Proven ability to identify emerging trends and translate them into successful product offerings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with overall business objectives.
• Source and evaluate new products and suppliers, negotiating terms and pricing to maximize profitability.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activities to inform purchasing decisions.
• Manage inventory levels to ensure optimal stock availability and minimize markdowns.
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising teams to create effective product assortments and promotional plans.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers and vendors.

Skills

Retail buying

Vendor relationships

Negotiation

Forecasting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a strategic and experienced Senior Retail Buyer to join their team in Stellenbosch . You will be responsible for sourcing, selecting, and negotiating the purchase of merchandise to meet customer demand and company profitability goals. This critical role involves analyzing market trends, identifying new opportunities, and building strong relationships with suppliers. The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for product, a strong understanding of the retail market, and exceptional negotiation skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with overall business objectives.
• Source and evaluate new products and suppliers, negotiating terms and pricing to maximize profitability.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activities to inform purchasing decisions.
• Manage inventory levels to ensure optimal stock availability and minimize markdowns.
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising teams to create effective product assortments and promotional plans.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers and vendors.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as a Retail Buyer or in a senior merchandising role.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating favorable terms with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market intelligence.
• Excellent understanding of retail math, inventory management, and forecasting techniques.
• Proven ability to identify emerging trends and translate them into successful product offerings.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field is preferred for this Stellenbosch role.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a leading retail organization.
• Generous employee discount on merchandise.
• A stimulating and collaborative work environment in Stellenbosch .