Assistant Buyer

The purpose of the Assistant Buyer is to assist the buyer in providing a balanced assortment of merchandise to achieve sales budgets, gross profit, and gross profit percentage by conducting product research, product sourcing, and evaluating the range's performance.

• Assist with identifying product trends by conducting research and competitor analysis
• Maintain relationships with external suppliers as well as internal stakeholders in order to gain insights into possible customer or international trends.
• Provide recommendations on possible actions resulting from the research findings
• Create tech packs for new styles as briefed by the buyers. Ensure all necessary information is included (measurements, fabrics, trims, labels, details, etc.).
• Receive and track lab dips and bulk swatches from suppliers for repeat orders.
• Review lab dips/ bulk swatches together with the responsible buyer.
• Send consolidated comments and approvals/rejections back to suppliers.

• Assisting with identifying new or current suppliers for indent requests or small orders
• Send the tech pack to the identified suppliers and receive the costing for items
• Calculate the costing of products and negotiate minimum order quantities, price, and lead times for delivery

• Monitor the performance of existing products and identify products that are reaching the end of their lifecycle.
• Make recommendations to the Buyer on New items/updates and replacements
• Identify product campaigns and present proposals to the buyer in terms of which products should go on promotion

• Assist the Buyer in identifying new local suppliers by evaluating the current supplier list and researching local suppliers.
• Make contact with suppliers and obtain product specifications and costing
• Make recommendations to the buyer on identified suppliers

• Responsible for keeping documents and reports up to date
• Prepare for all key departmental meetings
• Responsible for managing the sample process for marketing events, catalogues, and photoshoots
• Book courier collections for suppliers when required
• Track incoming parcels (samples, lab dips, swatches, etc.).
• Create PR's for invoices to be paid by the finance team
• Day-to-day contact with suppliers
• Communicate PO updates, delivery dates, and general order queries with suppliers

• Create and amend Purchase Orders (POs) as instructed by the buyers/ planners.
• Ensure PO details are accurate (style, colour, quantities, pricing, delivery dates, etc.).
• Follow up with suppliers on order progress and delivery timelines.
• Flag delays or risks early so that buyers/ planners can react accordingly.
• Assist with booking and coordinating supplier deliveries where required

• NQF 5/6 Supply Chain Management
• Assistant Buyer / Procurement Clerk

• Negotiation Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Coordination skills
• Product and range development
• Research
• Verbal Reasoning
• Numerical Reasoning
• MS D365
• Apparel product knowledge
• Product Costing

• Systematic approach
• Reliability
• Results and Goal orientation
• Execution