Job Description

• Research, design and execute a product assortment that is on trend and will delight our customers in order to maximise sales and net profit for your department. Provide guidance and mentorship for others in Design and lead a small team.

Responsibilities
Developing Ranges

•  Develop directional influence along with Buyer/Senior Buyer/Merch Manager to be used through assortment based on trend and customer insights.
• Conceptualise, plan and develop new styles and/or upgrade existing styles according to the approved seasonal strategy, based on trends and customer demand in order to provide our customers with the wanted product.
• Compile supplier tech packs containing detailed information on the relevant product so that the supplier can provide costings and execute.
• Assist in print and colour approvals.
•  Assist in the preparation of marketing briefs, merch mags (VM), inspiration and boards.
• Update packaging, labelling and branding in accordance to seasonal strategies.
• Build design libraries and templates to assist through range builds.

Current Trade Analysis

• Monitor current trade and analyse performance of product in order to identify design opportunities in upcoming seasons (brothers and sisters).
• Conduct store visits in order to ensure that product and in store execution is as per briefs.

Trend Research & Product Development

• Conduct competitor shops using local retailers as well as online resource to stay abreast of current trends in fashion and to present to buyer/s with findings on print colour, fabrications, category calls and newness in order to apply learnings to designs.
• Consolidate trend for the department to present to management.

Team Leadership

• Lead team in researching, designing and executing a product assortment that is on trend and will delight our customers and react to current trade.
• Ensure workload is effectively distributed, create opportunities for two-way communication and address any team dynamic or engagement concerns.
• Identify and address training needs, provide effective feedback, coaching & development to create a high performance team and build succession.

Qualifications

• 5 – 7 years (including mentoring and development). Product design experience required.
• Product or garment construction; Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign CS5; time management; Communication Skills; Presentation Skills; People Management skills.
• Merchandise and business processes, commercial acumen and understanding of customers’ needs.