Join Woolworths FBH as a Senior Buyer - Home Soft Décor & Kids based in Cape Town, Western Cape. Woolworths, a leading South African retailer committed to innovation and transformation, offers you the chance to shape seasonal product strategies that align with brand vision and customer needs. In this role, you will oversee product development from concept to in-store execution, ensuring a profitable, balanced range that appeals to customers.
You will collaborate closely with Planning, Design, Sourcing, Marketing, and Sales teams, driving data-informed decisions and trend-led product direction. Lead, coach, and mentor junior buyers while managing product performance and supplier relationships.
- Relevant 3-year diploma or degree
- Minimum 5 to 8 year’s relevant buying experience within fashion retailer
- Experience in managing a home portfolio is advantageous.
- People management and coaching skills, ability to manage self, buyer, and buyer's assistant
- Computer literate with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, PLM & EDITED
- Knowledge of current trends and proven ability to interpret trends and conceptualize products
- Excellent understanding of market, awareness of locally and international with a creative flair to
- interpret forthcoming moods, trends and themes
- Demonstrates the ability to think strategically and formulate effective plans and strategies.
- Understanding of business and buying processes and systems
- Retail market and industry knowledge
- Knowledge of markdown and mark up pricing, visibility to drive sales, sell-through
- Proven experience in delivering and executing business and BU strategy
- Ability to travel both locally and internationally
- Strong numerical and analytical skills
- Developing and executing a customer-led seasonal strategy aligned to key business objectives and brand positioning.
- Leading range building by partnering with Design, Sourcing and Planning to deliver trend-right, profitable assortments across channels.
- Leveraging insights from data, trend forecasts (e.g. EDITED, WGSN), customer analytics, and market research to inform product direction.
- Overseeing the full product lifecycle, from concept development to final sign-off ensuring product quality, pricing architecture and innovation.
- Conducting regular trade analysis to track product performance and implement actions that drive sales, improve margin, and manage stock health.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Technical, Visual Merchandising) to ensure cohesive execution across touchpoints.
- Supporting the sourcing strategy by engaging with suppliers, managing costing, and ensuring adherence to the merchandise cycle.
- Mentoring and coaching Trainees & Buying Assistants, driving skills development, performance and career growth.
- Fostering strong internal and external relationships to influence outcomes and enhance collaboration across the value chain.
