Import Merchandiser

Location📍: Montague Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Start Date🗓️: As soon as you are available to start

Job type: Full-time, on-site, Monday to Friday

We're hiring an Import Merchandiser! 📦✨

Are you a detail-obsessed, highly organized Import Merchandiser who thrives in a fast-paced retail and product development environment? We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded professional to join our team, drive private label expansion, and own key retail customer relationships.

If you have a passion for homeware, strong negotiation skills, and the drive to grow into a Product Development or Brand Manager role, this is the opportunity for you! 🚀

Key Responsibilities 📋

• Private Label & Range Development: Lead the development of in-house private label products and brands, working closely with Category Managers and Brand Managers to build coherent product stories and expand product lines.
• Supplier & Sourcing Management: Act as the main point of contact for international and local suppliers (managing 10–30+ active supplier conversations). Source new suppliers, negotiate pricing/MOQs, and ensure cost efficiency.
• Customer & Account Management: Serve as the dedicated single point of contact for key accounts (e.g., One Day Only and major retailers). Handle product sign-offs, external communications, and rapid pricing requests.
• Marketplace Strategy: Oversee listings, pricing, promotions, and sponsored ads across major e-commerce platforms (Takealot, Amazon), briefing execution teams on product updates.
• Supply Chain & Logistics: Manage container planning, shipping, airfreight, and labeling compliance while working closely with our buy plan.
• Commercial Forecasting: Analyze sales performance to make smart stock replenishment and container order decisions.

What We Are Looking For 🔎

Experience & Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience as an Import Merchandiser or Junior Import Merchandiser. (Candidates from top-tier, high-volume environments will be considered with 1+ years of experience).
• Industry Focus: Prior experience in the homeware sector is strongly preferred (fashion buying/merchandising background with transferable skills will also be considered).
• Private Label Expertise: Proven track record in developing private label products from concept to final delivery.
• Education: A qualification in Fashion Buying & Merchandising (e.g., BA from LISOF, FEDISA, Stadio, etc.), Consumer Sciences (e.g., UP/Tuks), or a background in Procurement/Commercial fields.

Core Skills & Attributes:

• Unmatched Attention to Detail & Memory: Exceptional precision and high-level recall for tracking multiple supplier specs, pricing, and orders simultaneously. 🔍
• Spatial & Product Awareness: Strong abstract reasoning and 3D spatial visualization for evaluating sample accuracy and product design. 📐
• Strong Negotiation & Firmness: Customer-facing confidence to hold your ground with suppliers on pricing and MOQs while maintaining warm, professional relationships. 🤝
• Type A Organization & Problem-Solving: Highly organized, proactive, and able to think on your feet to resolve supply chain challenges independently.⚡
• Bonus Skill: Experience with basic graphic design (packaging design or Takealot/retailer listing images) is a strong plus! 🎨

Why Join Us? 🌟

• Career Growth: We actively invest in long-term succession planning- this role is structured to help you grow into a Product Development Manager or Brand Manager .
• Collaborative Culture: Work in a supportive, cross-functional team where your ideas and quick execution make a direct impact.