Job Description

Key Requirements:

• Relevant degree
• 5+ years in similar role

Key Skills needed:

• Negotiating
• Analyzing sales data and sales planning
• Detail orientated and a creative problem solver
• Critical and analytical thinking skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Inventory management
• Expert level skills in retail merchandising tools and Microsoft tools/applications such as Excel and Outlook
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask in a busy environment

Key Tasks & Responsibilities
Strategy Development/Analyzing Competition

• Develop and execute business strategy to maximize the profitability of assigned categories
• Responsible for communicating category strategies to the relevant parties (planning, marketing and operations) and providing timely updates and information
• Partner with the Marketing team to develop and integrate store and online merchandising strategy
• Partner with key strategic suppliers to develop 3 5 year plans
• Development of private label ranges and strategies
• Research business and market place trends, analyze competitor products and customer needs to increase the organizations share of total market

Financial Analysis, Pricing / OTB Planning

• Responsible for managing gross profit, sales aged stock and stock turn, of the category portfolio
• Develop financial plans to achieve the departments annual sales and net margin goals
• Engage with Planning department to manage current and future OTB status
• Manage the billings process and negotiate deals with suppliers

Building Assortment and Range Plan

• Responsible for category range - product evaluation and selection to achieve category targets
• Responsible for managing the entire cycle of a products trend curve by making effective tactical and strategic merchandising and marketing decisions (managing top sellers, slow sellers, aged stock inventory management)
• Develop Import Program range, price strategy, product life cycle, marketing &promotion
• Product innovation point of difference product to ensure competitive advantage
• Partner with Marketing to manage launch strategies for new and innovative products
• Order samples, maintain and manage samples in the Concept store
• Responsible for working with Visual Merchandising Team and Store Planning to develop appropriate store groupings, bin allocations and planograms

SKU/Product/System Management

• Consistently evaluate SKU count to ensure dominance of best-selling products and optimal range.
• Manage range through top seller, slow seller and aged stock inventory management
• Liaise with Planning team on system maintenance

Quality Control

• Ensure product complies to necessary quality standards to prevent company reputation damage, customer disappointment and misuse of company spend.
• Responsible for product certification and quality control parameters

Marketing/ Advertising & Promotions

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to execute product promotional calendar and promotional category strategies
• Partner with the Marketing team to drive category sales
• Accurately complete the marketing ROI template, proof ad copy/photography and proof advertising
• Partner with suppliers to obtain funding and run financially attractive promotions

Supplier Management/Negotiation

• Maintain strong partnerships with existing suppliers and proactively source new suppliers
• Manage supplier relationships

Leadership/Talent Enhancement & Training

• Provide feedback, coaching and guidance where appropriate to enhance skill development
• Develop and train store teams in relation to product knowledge, selling, and in-store execution

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