3 plus sized women wearing Taking Shape clothing
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Are you looking to progress your career in Buying?  Do you have a passion for bags and accessories?

 

At Strandbags, our mission is to create the world’s most loved destination for the perfect bag. We are on a journey to continuously grow our brand and to celebrate life’s journeys and adventures, big and small.

Strandbags has been a leading retailer of luggage, handbags and backpacks since 1927. With almost 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand, a growing online business and an amazing range of leading brand and own-brand bags, we have the best selection, experience and expertise to suit everyone’s needs.

Are you looking to progress your career in Buying? Do you have a passion for bags and accessories?

We have an amazing opportunity for an experienced Assistant Buyer to join our Buying team.

Reporting to the Buyer, as an Assistant Buyer you will provide support and assist the Buyer with all aspects of the buying process. Under the Buyer’s guidance, you will be exposed to the buying process and strategy, with the potential opportunity to look after a smaller category on proven ability, providing development and a pathway to a career in Buying.

You will assist with the development and implementation of the merchandise plan both strategically and tactically for the defined product categories for each season’s range, by sourcing the optimal product portfolio to continuously delight our customers.

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

    • Assist the buyer in all areas of range planning, product selection, upload and performance review: develop product developments that satisfies merchandise plans for each season’s new range through buying trips, visiting suppliers, conducting competitor analysis
    • Be acute to category’s performance, new stock arrivals, aged stock and promotional plans
    • Monitor sales and inventory levels for each item within the defined product area, in consultation with the Buyer and Planner
    • Work to deliver sales, maximise net margins, stock flow
    • Review and understand KPI reports, provide sound suggestions on improving category performance and help prepare analysis reports
    • Inspect quality and proactively address issues as required
    • Ownership of product preparation, data listing and accuracy, from end to end
    • Maintain up to date knowledge of the industry, consumer preferences and expectations, competitor activities, local and overseas market trends via effective use of market research data, industry sources, agents and supplier information, competitor activity and regular store visits
    • Identify opportunities with innovation in mind and react where required
    • Build strong relationships to coordinate with internal stakeholders to deliver objectives
    • Work closely with Marketing and VM to ensure all products have accurately information and represented to deliver objectives

About you:

    • Experience as a Buying Assistant for at least 3 years
    • High level of initiative and drive to succeed
    • Be achievement oriented and results driven
    • Passion for the product
    • Business acumen
    • Strong analytical and numerical skills
    • Highly organised with good attention to detail
    • Strong communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
    • Competent with systems and programs such as Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Adobe
    • Understanding and ability for market research
    • Good negotiation skills
    • Proven ability to achieve tight deadlines with strong time management skills
    • Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills
    • Commercially aware with a gut feel for fashion and market trends
    • Ability to build relationships and influence at all levels
    • Flexible, ability to adapt and resourceful
    • Enjoys working as part of a team
    • Looking to develop their career in Retail Buying and Category Management

At Strandbags we believe in putting people first. We work hard to ensure we are collaborative, humble and results driven. We focus on being customer obsessed so we can deliver the best product and experience at every customer touchpoint.

If you want to join a strong team culture that is passion about what we do, then look no further. With an exciting move to a brand-new modern office in Pyrmont, there is no better time than now to join a growing and expanding business.