Buyer: Girls

**KNOWLEDGE**required:

- Knowledge of SA’s retail clothing market, customers and competitors, an understanding of the fashion Retail Cycle, critical path & buying process
- Understanding of relevant trends with a flair/eye for acceptable product for your target market
- Relevant product knowledge with regards to styling and constructions and an understanding of product components
- Experience building ranges in Kidswear departments
- Sound ability to analyse and work with numerical data
- Merchant skills & a sound trader mentality
- Passion for keeping up to date with the latest trends, styles and colors

**SKILLS**required:

- A sound ability to analyse and work with numerical data
- Merchant skills and a sound trader mentality
- Presentation skills
- A passion for keeping up to date with the latest trends, styles, colours
- Identify, distinguish, understand and assess colours, CAD approvals and strike offs engineer garments / products to achieve the desired value proposition
- Travel (overseas trips)
- Understand and interpret trends relevant to Ackermans Girls customer
- Create a shared vision and to positively influence others
- Build balanced ranges
- Communicate effectively at all levels both within, as well as outside the company
- Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers
- Effectively negotiate and secure win-win agreements with others

**Essential**:

- 3-5 years proven retail experience in the procurement of apparel

**Qualification**:

- A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
- A relevant qualification in Fashion Design, Textile Design / Clothing Production / Product Development /Merchandising or a related field would be an advantage