Senior Footwear Buyer – Cape Town

Job Description

Truworths is offering an exciting opportunity for a creative and dynamic senior shoe buyer to curate an exciting range of new product.

If you are looking for your next challenge this role would provide opportunity to be innovative and expand the OFFICE Shoe range into the South African market.

Your exceptional knowledge of trends and the retail market will be utilized to develop the product strategy and support the growth of this new market segment in South Africa. Collaborating with strong Design and Planning teams, both locally and in our London office, you will be responsible for the development, range building and negotiation, as well as maintaining the critical path.

Key Responsibilities

Drive the development and buy of Office’s Made-to-Order Footwear for South Africa using our UK based product as inspiration.
Demonstrating keen fashion awareness, an eye for trends and a passion for footwear
Identify and interpret emerging trends quickly and react accordingly, conceptualising product and working individual fashion aspects into an overall product strategy to deliver a balanced commercial range
Develop a reliable and flexible supplier base ensuring price, quality and fashionability meet requirements and reinforces the brand
Proactively identify possible areas of commercial risk and minimise impact
Use knowledge of current social and economic trends to make recommendations on business decisions to senior management
Build excellent working relationships
Display enthusiasm, professionalism and role models the Truworths Values
Interaction with and travel to our Office UK head office to understand the range and benefit from buying synergies

Qualifications and experience

6 to 8 years’ experience either in retail or manufacturing as a Footwear Buyer
A relevant tertiary qualification
Knowledge of Merchant Systems
Leather experience advantageous
Strong footwear experience in Women’s Fashion footwear- both long and short lead times/ quick response
Passionate about fashionable footwear product

Competencies

High commercial awareness and ability to identify commercially viable products that support and maintain the integrity of the brand
Highly organised and demonstrates ability to plan and prioritise for all areas of the job role, implementing plans and continuously measuring and reviewing progress
Ability to innovate and generate new ideas to benefit the business
Team player and strong communicator who influences and communicates confidently and effectively to build strong relationships with other departments within Office
Ability to effectively negotiate with others in order to secure a mutually beneficial outcome, whilst maintaining the integrity of the brand
Dynamic and proactive, showing initiative in the role
Practices excellent time management and has the ability to cope under pressure
Supports senior management in business decisions by taking a long term strategic view
Takes ownership for own development and participates in a mentoring and feedback culture