Buyer Yuppiechef

• We’re looking for a commercially driven, design-forward Buyer to contribute to the growth of our Homeware category.
• If you live and breathe interior trends, have an instinctive sense of what South Africans want in their living spaces, and possess the analytical muscle to build balanced, high-margin, profitable product ranges across our retail and digital channels, this role is for you.

Responsibilities
What your role looks like:
Reporting to the Merchandising Manager, you will take full commercial and aesthetic ownership of your homeware category.

• Translate customer insights and Yuppiechef’s design handwriting into commercially viable product briefs for both premium third-party brands and private-label ranges.
• Curate balanced, trend-forward homeware assortments that maximize gross margin and enhance brand equity.
• Monitor weekly sales, margins, and stock turns against budgeted targets, proactively identifying top performers, slow movers, and inventory risks.
• Partner with Merchandise Planners to manage Open-to-Buy (OTB), protect margins, and optimize inventory health across retail stores and digital channels.
• Lead and present compelling range proposals and category reviews to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Partner closely with Visual Merchandising, Digital Marketing, and Studio/Content teams to ensure new homeware ranges are launched and showcased with high visual impact.
• Manage sample logistics, critical path milestones, and supplier compliance standards.

Who you’ll be working with

• You will collaborate directly with our Merchandising Planners, Retail Operations, Creative/Content teams, Suppliers and Logistics partners. We are a fast-moving, high-standard team with a genuine love for design, premium products and excellent customer experience. We take our numbers seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously — expect plenty of coffee, healthy discussion and a combined love for retail.

Who you are

• You strike the rare balance between a sharp creative eye and an analytical business brain. You get just as excited about a gorgeous new homeware line as you do about a healthy gross margin percentage.

You’re someone who:

• Knows what makes a homeware product both beautiful and commercially viable.
• Can spot emerging trends early and translate them into commercially successful ranges.
• Is comfortable diving into spreadsheets, sales reports, and inventory dashboards.
• Is an assertive, diplomatic negotiator who builds authentic supplier relationships.
• Thrives in a fast-paced omnichannel environment where speed to market matters.
• Understands the pressure and detail around complex ranges

Qualifications
What experience and skills you need for the role
Experience:

• 3–5+ years of buying experience in retail merchandising, with significant exposure to Homeware, Decor, Textiles, or Gifting.
• Proven track record of managing a category's P&L, meeting GP targets, and driving top-line sales growth.
• Demonstrated experience in omnichannel retail (both brick-and-mortar store planning and e-commerce dynamics).

Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Fashion/Retail Buying, Merchandising, Business Management, Interior Design, or a related field.

Skills:

• Commercial Acumen
• Analytical Tools
• Communication & Influence
• Creative Vision