We're on the hunt for a trendsetter, analytical guru, and all-round fashionista to join our squad as a Buyer. Your thirst for product knowledge coupled with your eye for trends, is exactly what we’re looking for. If you're ready to bring your A-game and make an impact on the world of Kids fashion, hit that apply button now!
KNOWLEDGE required:
Knowledge of the South African retail clothing market, customers and competitors, with an understanding of the fashion retail cycle, critical path and buying process.
Understanding of trends, customer preferences and market dynamics relevant to the Older Girls customer.
Relevant product knowledge relating to styling, garment construction, fabrication and product components.
Experience in range building and assortment planning within a Kidswear department.
Understanding of value retail principles and the ability to develop products that deliver the right balance of quality, fashionability and price.
Knowledge of product costing, margin management and the key drivers of profitability within a retail environment.
Sound ability to analyse and interpret numerical data to support commercial decision-making.
SKILLS required:
Sound ability to analyse and work with numerical data.
Strong merchant skills and a sound trader mentality.
Ability to build balanced, commercially relevant ranges that meet customer needs and financial objectives.
Ability to identify, interpret and apply trends relevant to the Ackermans Girls customer.
Strong presentation and influencing skills.
Competent in all Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to identify, distinguish and assess colours, CAD approvals and strike-offs.
Ability to create a shared vision and positively influence others.
Effective communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels within and outside the business.
Ability to build and maintain mutually beneficial supplier relationships.
Strong negotiation skills with the ability to secure win-win commercial agreements.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced retail environment.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally when required.
Essential:
5+ years proven retail experience in the procurement of Apparel
Qualification:
A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
A relevant qualification in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Clothing Production, Product Development, Merchandising or a related field.
The Ackermans story goes back as far as 1916, when Gus Ackerman opened the first store in Wynberg in Cape Town. His vision for the store was to create a place where customers could find great products at fantastic prices, which is exactly what Ackermans became. Ackermans was, subsequently, bought by the Pepkor Group in 1986.
Today, there are more than 850 Ackermans stores in 5 countries, making us a leading value fashion retailer for the whole family – continuously setting the standard for value and affordability. With a wide selection of fashion for ladies, kids, babies and men, as well as homeware, cellular and key financial products, we’ll keep bringing value to your life every day.
Our purpose at Ackermans is: Bringing Value to Life, and it lies at the heart of everything we do, whether it’s to the lives of our customers and employees, or to the wider community and value retailing as a whole.
The secret to our success is simple – people. Hiring people who love what they do, and giving them every opportunity to shine. In fact, at Ackermans we’re so committed to this philosophy that we’ve named our staff members Phadimas – which means ‘shine’ in Northern Sotho. Every day, each of our employees is encouraged to shine, reach for the stars and take each other, and the Ackermans brand, to new heights of achievement and success.
We firmly believe that the future of our company rests in the hands of the people we employ. As such, every new Ackermans Phadima is put through a rigorous selection process and chosen with the greatest of care. This process ensures that each new Phadima is a perfect fit for our company culture, and will thrive in our environment of encouragement, motivation and inspiration.
If you feel that this is an environment that you could succeed in, we’d love for you to join us. View our current vacancies, and we could soon be welcoming you on-board as our newest Ackermans Phadima!
