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.

Job Objectives and Functions

Product research and development

• 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