Optical Frame & Sunglass Buyer | Johannesburg

Pay

Market related

Type

Permanent

Sector

Medical, Health & Social Care

Closes

in 29 days

Recruiter

Optivet · All jobs at Optivet

About the role

Bring your vision, creativity and market insight to an exciting Optical Frame & Sunglass Buyer role within a business with a dynamic portfolio of brands. This is an opportunity for a fashion-forward, commercially minded individual with a genuine passion for eyewear and a strong eye for design to shape collections that are both trend-led and commercially successful. You will play a key role in developing and selecting optical frames and sunglasses, giving each brand its own distinctive character and design direction. Working closely with international manufacturers and suppliers, you will identify emerging global trends, colours, shapes and materials and translate these into collections that are relevant to the market. The role offers exciting international exposure, including buying trips to the Far East and international eyewear exhibitions. If you understand eyewear, have a strong sense of fashion and design, and know what makes a collection commercially successful, this is an opportunity to make your mark in the world of eyewear.

• Manage the buying and selection of optical frames and sunglasses across the brand portfolio
• Develop distinctive design direction and product identity for each brand
• Research international fashion and eyewear trends and translate these into relevant collections
• Work with manufacturers and suppliers to develop new products and collections
• Select products across entry-level, mid-market and luxury price points
• Monitor competitor activity, market trends and consumer preferences
• Ensure collections remain fresh, relevant and commercially viable
• Work closely with sales and marketing teams on product and brand strategy
• Manage stock levels in line with inventory requirements
• Analyse sales and product performance to inform future buying decisions
• Negotiate with suppliers on pricing, product development and commercial terms
• Attend international eyewear exhibitions and travel to international sourcing markets
• Stay up to date with global fashion, eyewear and retail trends

What they're looking for

• Minimum 5 years' work experience in a relevant field
• Experience in eyewear design or buying is preferred
• Candidates with experience in eyewear sales or optical dispensing will also be considered
• Buyers from fashion, accessories, retail or related industries will be considered
• Strong understanding of optical frames and sunglasses
• A genuine passion for fashion, design and eyewear
• Excellent eye for colour, shape, materials and product styling
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of market trends
• Creative with the ability to translate trends into commercially viable product selections
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
• Excellent Excel and Microsoft Office skills
• Strong organisational, analytical and attention-to-detail skills
• Proactive, confident and commercially driven
• Willingness to travel internationally to sourcing markets and eyewear exhibitions