Junior Buyer

homechoice is a leading South African homeware retailer. For over 40 years we’ve helped our customers create beautiful homes they love with an innovative range of quality products they can afford.

To manage the buying and trading of an assigned product category, ensuring the delivery of commercially successful product ranges that meet customer needs and achieve sales, margin and stock objectives.

The Junior Buyer is accountable for the end-to-end buying process within their portfolio, including product sourcing, supplier management, range planning, trading analysis and stock management, while continuously identifying opportunities to improve commercial performance.

What You Will Love Doing In This Role

• Develop commercially viable and innovative product ranges that align with customer needs, market trends and business objectives.
• Drive the development of unique and desirable products by combining creativity with sound commercial judgement.
• Build and maintain effective supplier relationships, source new suppliers and support negotiations to achieve quality, cost and delivery objectives.
• Ensure product quality standards are clearly communicated and consistently achieved throughout the product development process.
• Apply technical product knowledge and an understanding of manufacturing processes, including costing, lead times and product specifications, to deliver successful products.
• Monitor local and international market trends, competitor activity and industry best practices to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Develop a strong understanding of the target customer and use customer insights to inform buying decisions and enhance the product offering.
• Source and select products that meet the Company's quality standards and product specifications, working closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment.
• Analyse sales, stock and margin performance to optimise product profitability and trading performance.
• Prepare and deliver professional presentations to communicate product strategies, range proposals and commercial recommendations.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful delivery of product ranges and achievement of business objectives.

What You’ll Need To Do This Role

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Retail Business Management, Fashion Buying, Consumer Science, Fashion Management, Business Management or a related commercial qualification.
• 1–3 years' experience in a retail buying.
• Experience analysing sales, stock and margin data to support commercial decision-making.
• Exposure to supplier engagement, product sourcing and range development.
• Experience working in a fast-paced retail environment with competing priorities and deadlines.

What We Will Love About You

• Results driven with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong commercial acumen and sound decision-making skills.
• Excellent analytical thinking and numerical ability.
• Effective negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Trend aware, with a creative and customer-focused mindset.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Adaptable, resilient and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective planning, organisation and collaboration skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Demonstrated experience in creating professional presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint or other appropriate presentation tools.

Behaviors we love

Wow my customer

• Walk in my customers’ shoes
• Deliver on my promises
• Deliver insight-led solutions my customers need

Treat the business as my own

• Take accountability
• Be curious, creative & explore opportunities
• Do it right & at the right time

Play as a team

• Be helpful
• Be inclusive
• Find the fun