Buyer - Platypus - Buying

Since 1998 here at Platypus Shoes we have made it our business to deck out every single person who walks through our doors with the freshest footwear from all the biggest brands. But we reckon life goes beyond shoes. We believe it’s what you do in them that truly counts. So stay out late. Wake up early. Walk there, run back. Stand tall and be a champion in a crowd of Naysayers. We’re for the ones that dance harder, sing louder and don’t care what anyone else thinks. This is your story. Play Life Loud.

Platypus Shoes is a part of the Accent Group which is the largest footwear group with over 750+ stores, 35 brands and 40 online platforms including Platypus, Skechers, Hype DC, Vans, Dr. Martens, Subtype, The Athletes Foot, CAT, Merrell, The Trybe, Pivot, Timberland, Stylerunner, Nude Lucy, Glue Store, Herschel, Stance, and Saucony.

**Our Benefits**:

- Fantastic team culture within an amazing purpose-built Office in Richmond
- Generous employee discounts across all our brands plus discounts on health insurance
- Be part of a supportive team and a growing business with endless opportunities to progress your career

**About The Role**:
We have an exciting role available to join our Platypus Buying team As our Platypus Buyer you will be consumer focused and financially sound to build the relevant product plans within your portfolio to meet the business targets and company vision. You will demonstrate integrity and respect in all business liaisons, building and leveraging key relationships within Accent Group and with external stakeholders.

This is the ideal role for an experienced Buyer within the retail industry in apparel or footwear. You will be required to build strong relationships with both internal teams and suppliers to achieve the outcomes of the role.

**Your key responsibilities include but not limited to**:

- Work with Buying Manager and Planner on full year financial and strategic planning
- Review brands on regular cycle to ensure financial targets are met and risks highlighted
- Conduct regular trend research and monitor brand health to ensure relevance for the consumer
- Build seasonal introduction, training & VM directive to deliver to retail team
- Develop a range selection and product grading in line with business and consumer needs:

- Identify sales trends highlighting best and worst performers and areas of opportunity
- Ensure assortment depth and size curves are relevant and in line with sales trends
- Analysis of category performance, macro market (domestic and international), direct competitor, customer and store feedback and trends to build deep understanding of the customer and the business
- Ensure all business activities comply with relevant Acts, legal demands and ethical standards.
- Liaise with Brand Partners and Marketing to ensure successful launches and campaign executions, delivering strong ROI
- Work with Planner to review performance and forecast by brand, manage inventory and OTB in line with business targets
- Work with Marketing & Retail Teams to ensure key items are promoted and featured in campaigns
- Liaise with National, State, Area and store managers to ensure you are in touch with issues on the ground regarding assigned brands.
- Present to Senior Leadership and Store Teams regarding assigned brand strategy, trends, product knowledge and what is coming for assigned brands

**To be successful, you will have**:

- Demonstrated previous experience in a retail buying role ideally with retail apparel / footwear
- A passion for driving sales and achieving profit margins
- The ability to manage and maintain multiple supplier relationships
- Proficient in Excel - analysing data and managing reports
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to communicate with various stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to create, plan, monitor and execute multiple reports
- High sense of urgency with the ability to work autonomously and part of a team
- Excellent time management and organisation skills to manage multiple priorities
- Ability to problem solve and take initiative
- Affiliation with Accent Group Core values and “Make It Happen” attitude

At Accent Group Limited we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity and inclusion. We believe in the diversity of our people across age, gender, identity, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical and mental ability. We strive on creating an equal employment environment where everyone from any background can be themselves.The Accent Group acknowledges, and pays respect, to the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of the land. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Maori people.