Retail Buyer

**Position Title**: Retail Buyer

**Location**: Melbourne CBD, VIC

**About Us**:
Hometown Asian Supermarket is the only Asian supermarket in Melbourne CBD offering a comprehensive range of groceries imported from Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.

We specialize in Asian groceries, Asian cooking ingredients, Japanese sake, fresh produce, vegetables, and frozen foods. Our goal is to provide the most authentic Asian grocery shopping experience in the heart of Melbourne.

**Required Qualifications**:
At least a Diploma in Business Management or a relevant field.

A qualification in Marketing is highly preferred but not compulsory.

**Required Experience**:

- At least 3 years working experience as Retail Buyer on Asian grocery retailing industry.
- Must have comprehensive understanding of various Asian grocery products.

**Required Skills**:

- **Negotiation and Communication**: Strong skills in negotiating with suppliers to secure favorable terms, and effective communication skills to collaborate with team members and suppliers.
- **Organizational and Time Management**: Excellent abilities to organize and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and manage multiple categories of products
- **Inventory Management**: Proficiency in managing stock levels, forecasting demand, and minimizing waste.
- **Market Analysis**: Ability to analyse market trends and consumer preferences using data from various sources, including social media and sales data.
- **Customer Feedback Collection**: Skilled in working with the cashier team leader to gather and analyze customer feedback to make informed purchasing decisions.
- **Strategic Planning**: Capable of designing and implementing effective pricing, marketing, promotional, and display strategies tailored to the supermarket’s diverse product range.
- **Adaptability**: Ability to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and consumer trends, ensuring the supermarket remains competitive and relevant.
- **Tech-Savvy**: Competence in using supermarket cashier systems and other technology to collect and analyse sales data, improving purchasing decisions.
- **Language Skills**: Ability to understand and speak either Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, or Cantonese is highly preferred but not compulsory.

**Key Responsibilities**:
1. **Monitoring Market Conditions**:

- Monitor sales data and stock levels using the supermarket cashier system, and study trade, manufacturers and market information to stay informed of changing market conditions.
- Collect sales data and customer feedback from the cashier team leader to identify popular and in-demand products, particularly those from Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.

2. **Negotiating with Suppliers**:

- Negotiate purchase, promotion, and supply arrangements with suppliers to secure the best terms and conditions.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers from the aforementioned countries to ensure consistent supply and quality.

3. **Strategic Planning**:

- Design and implement pricing, marketing, promotional, and display strategies for Asian cooking ingredients, Japanese sake, fresh produce, vegetables, and frozen foods to maximize sales and customer engagement.
- Work closely with the stock team leader to manage stock levels and execute the stock management plan efficiently, focusing on products from our key regions.

4. **Long-term Planning**:

- Liaise with the general manager on long-term planning and sales promotions to align purchasing decisions with business goals and budgetary requirements.

5. **Seasonal and Budget Planning**:

- Establish work plans according to seasonal trends, budgetary requirements, and goals set by the general manager to ensure optimal stock levels and product availability.
- Anticipate seasonal demand for specific Asian grocery products and plan purchases accordingly.

6. **Consumer Trend Analysis**:

- Study market trends using online information, social media group buying groups, and other sources to determine popular items.
- Anticipate consumer trends in Asian grocery products and determine the quantity, style, and quality of goods to be purchased, ensuring a diverse and appealing product range.

**Proposed Annual Earnings for the position**:
From $75,000 to $80,000 plus super, depending on your working experience

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Employee discount
- Free drinks
- Free food

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability

Supplementary Pay:

- Tips

Application Question(s):

- Do you have comprehensive understanding of various Asian grocery products?

**Education**:

- Diploma (required)

**Experience**:

- Retail Buyer on Asian grocery retailing industry: 3 years (required)

**Language**:

- either Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, or Cantonese (preferred)

Work Authorisation:

- Australia (required)

Work Location: In person

Expected Start Dat