Senior Buyer – Womens Hard & Soft Accessories needed at Woolworths

Main Purpose

• To develop and execute a customer-focused and profitable seasonal product strategy that aligns with the company’s overall strategy and brand identity. You will ensure the product range is trend-appropriate, commercially viable, and appeals to our target customer. From product conception through to in-store execution, you will oversee the entire journey, ensuring a balanced and well-curated range that meets sales targets and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Key Responsibilities

Seasonal Planning & Product Development

• Develop and execute a profitable seasonal product strategy aligned with department KPIs.
• Leverage data (trends, customer insights, competitor analysis) to guide the product roadmap.
• Present the seasonal plan, outlining strategic categories and channel-specific considerations.
• Collaborate with Design & Sourcing to build a balanced, trend-driven range.

Product Innovation & Collaboration

• Partner with Sourcing to introduce innovative product concepts and manage the product lifecycle.
• Oversee sample approvals with Technical Product Development, ensuring quality and critical path alignment.
• Utilise global insights to identify market opportunities and product innovation.

Customer Understanding & Market Analysis

• Deepen customer insights through tools like First Insights and competitor benchmarking.
• Conduct market research (EDITED, WGSN) to inform product differentiation and merchandising strategies.
• Develop marketing proposals to enhance the in-store and online customer experience.

Trading and Sales Performance

• Analyse weekly sales across all channels and adjust trading strategies accordingly.
• Collaborate with Planning and Sourcing to address product performance through markdowns, promotions and volume adjustments.
• Provide competitor feedback to inform future buying strategies

Key Competencies

• A relevant degree /qualification in Fashion or Product Development. 
• 5 – 8 years of experience in a Buying role, with a strong background in fashion and accessories.
• Preferred product knowledge in women’s handbag, belts, headwear, scarfs, ponchos & wraps. 
• A deep understanding of customer behaviour, market trends and product development processes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage a Buyer’s Assistant 
• Computer literate with proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of current trends and proven ability to interpret trends and conceptualize products
• Excellent understanding of market and ability to analyse trends
• 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
• Ability to travel both locally and international
• Strong numerical and analytical skill