Buyer - Personal Care

An established distributor of personal care products is seeking an experienced Buyer to manage suppliers, conduct market analysis, select products, manage stock and drive turnover with the aim to meet company objectives and customer requirements.

Minimum Requirements For The Role

• Must have a Degree in Buying/Finance/Retail Management/Consumer Science
• Minimum 3 years buying experience within the retail/FMCG field is essential
• Experience in personal care/homecare/nutrition would be ideal
• Good communication and negotiation skills are important
• Must have a valid drivers license and own reliable transport

The Successful Candidate Will Be Responsible For

• Analysing consumer buying patterns to predict future trends and keeping these trend figures in mind when choosing product ranges.
• Assisting in managing plans to ensure optimal stock levels for the business at all times.
• Liaising with in-store personnel to ensure supply meets demand.
• Placing supplier orders on to the relevant systems, negotiating prices and delivery contracts.
• Ensuring operating and financial plans meet the requirements category balanced product assortment and on-shelf layout objectives.
• Sourcing private label opportunities and procuring a balanced range of merchandise in line with the category strategy.
• Analysing target audiences to determine the type of marketing offers that would be most effective to ensure marketing is in line with consumer trends.
• Assisting in establishing a schedule to cover campaign design, development, production and distribution of marketing material to meet launch dates.
• Assisting in reviewing cost against the original campaign budget and estimating the return on the campaign in terms of increased sales or product awareness.
• Identifying and developing various category pricing and promotion strategies to ensure customer needs are met while remaining competitive in the market.
• Assisting in developing a yearly category operating strategy and ensuring it is in line with company objectives.
• Keeping informed of inventory, expenditures and deliveries of various product ranges and ensuring they are in line with department budgets and objectives.
• Managing the return on inventory.
• Reporting on category plans on a monthly basis, (sales, profit, market shares and stock returns).
• Working merchandising partners and other departments, including the online store, designers and marketing staff to ensure product quantities and displays are optimal.
• Conducting regular supplier reviews.
• Negotiating trading terms and advertising spend.
• Writing reports on relevant products and their sales, quality and feedback.
• Presenting new ranges to Senior Retail Managers on a regular basis.

Please note that subsequent to the screening and shortlisting process, all further communication will be entered into, only with the shortlisted candidates