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Meet Melikhaya Mdubeki, one of our assistant buyers and find out more about his life at Sneaker Factory below 👇🏽 1. Tell us who you are & what you do. I am an Assistant Buyer for Branded Footwear, Apparel, and Accessories at Sneaker Factory (which is part of The Foschini Group). In a nutshell, I provide support to the buying team in various aspects of the purchasing process. 2. Tell us what an average day as an Assistant Buyer looks like. I assist in selecting/ curating a range for our value market. I get to sift through the latest offerings from top brands, selecting the crème de la crème for our customers to ensure we stay true to our statement of “providing the best value branded products.” Help maintain a solid relationship with our suppliers through answering their queries and drafting purchase order contracts. Monitor orders and ensuring that they reach our stores on time and be checked out to the final customer. Together with my team, we analyse sales trend and market insights to inform our buying decisions. Liaise with the marketing team, to hand over incoming products and launch styles to enable them to create magical marketing content which help us drive sales. Said in simple terms, I am the central person providing assistance between suppliers, Marketing team and Merchandise team (Buying and Planning. It's a dynamic, fast-paced role that keeps me on my toes and fills my heart with joy. 3. Describe the culture at Sneaker Factory in one word: Vibrant! 4. What quote or mantra do you live by? The future is not something we enter, but something we create! - Leonard I. Sweet 5. High tops or low tops? Low Tops Stay tuned for more Sneaker Factory fam features 🫶🏽 #SneakerFactory #SneakerFactoryFam #LifeAtSneakerFactory #ADayInTheLife #AssistantBuyer

#hiring Senior Designer Color & Materials, Los Angeles, United States, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #LosAngelesjobs #Californiajobs #AdvertMediaEntertainment Apply: https://lnkd.in/gyrjS_hV Department: BU Originals, Basketball & Partnerships Indirect/secondary reporting line : GSMS Grade: M3 Number of Personnel Managed : N/A Cost Center/Budget and/or Revenue Responsibility : N/A Purpose: To design and lead others in designing industry leading executions of Footwear and/or Apparel through color, material, and construction. Key Relationships: Continuously aware and guides team on information needed to design a consumer and brand relevant collection. Should include all possible sources to gain this information: Trade fairs, cultural events, and sporting events, athlete insights Trade publications, general interest press, trend services, fashion and sportswear magazines and website Store checks, market visits, and team travel as provided Relevant forecast and sell-through numbers from our Marketing counterparts Is a stakeholder in driving seasonal and long-term design direction and strategy for their category within the following topics: Footwear and Apparel Color Footwear Materials Footwear and Apparel Silhouettes Graphics/Print Direction Is a stakeholder in curating aforementioned design direction by, but not limited to: Providing trend forecasting content relevant to our consumer and brand Providing direction and assisting in developing materials with the Material Team Working with Local and Global counterparts to provide category relative Color and Material direction when required Leads as a Color and Trend conduit to Marketing, Product Managers, Designers and in between Key Account and Inline Acts as a brand ambassador between all categories looking for opportunities to connect direction, product, and people Works closely with members of the category's design team. This includes but is not limited to: Providing Color and Material content and direction Collaboration and critiquing To understand technical details of the product Works closely with members of the categories design team. This includes but is not limited to: Providing Color and Material content and direction Collaboration and critiquing Sets a leading example within the team and mentors Transfers prior experiences and knowledge to those around them Viewed within the team as a Color and Material expert and senior Leads top-line range strategy in their categories. This includes but is not limited to: Leads their team in creating holistic category overviews, rollouts, and merchandising strategy for the category Communicate content to Footwear, Apparel, and Graphics Teams to align strategy Inform horizontal brand moments and category moments by leading products, Color and Material narratives/executions, and tiered rollout plans in partnership with Des

#hiring Junior Buyer - Footwear, Leeds City, United Kingdom, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #LeedsCityjobs #Yorkshirejobs #RetailConsumerProducts #entryleveljobsuk #graduatejobsuk #firstjobuk #newjobuk #internshipsuk Apply: https://lnkd.in/gt_5WW4K Working with design; designing & sourcing components/hardware along with specialised leathers and feature materials negotiating directly with suppliers building & developing the collection, ensuring it is in line within the offer in terms of sourcing/pricing structure/brand position/margin.Client Details A great opportunity for a Junior Buyer to join a leading retailer in the Leeds. They are an established business that have been trading for a number of years. They are also known for their internal progression. DescriptionWorking with design; designing & sourcing components/hardware along with specialised leathers and feature materials negotiating directly with suppliers building & developing the collection, ensuring it is in line within the offer in terms of sourcing/pricing structure/brand position/margin. Required to lead & manage selection/sign off meetings alongside merchandising presenting to Buying Director and CEO. Develop a strong working relationship with key departments across the business i.e. merchandising - working the system and using the system to support buying decisions. Trading your area on a weekly basis. Monitoring sales reactions and adapting trading decisions accordingly. Travel with buying/Design & QA team across Europe and Far East when required throughout the season - aiding the whole team to deliver the requirements for each trip and supporting as and when all product functions. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the companies requirements for product standards in order to be able to communicate effectively with issues regarding product/price/quality. Attention to detail is a pre requisite. Market position - have a clear understanding of both target market and how this then implicates the category mix. Aware of our competition and movement each week. Actively conducts thorough benchmarking of competitors ranges to look for missed opportunities/price architecture and movement, sourcing activities - which retailer is using what COO. Marketing/web activity. Is able to work out margins accurately and have an understanding of costings required to do a buying job: i.e. margins/WSSI/budget build up/OTB/speed to market.Optimising sales on best sellers and trading out of poor reactions. Working the system and hi-lighting good/bad reactions/ testers while making proposals/suggestions for future buys. Utilises benchmarking report, makes proposals to buyer for potential opportunities to improve the range, while also understanding the market and the competition ensuring buying processes are in line with the companies main competitors. Contributes to supplier meetings and buying meetings by applying product kn

Picture that! Getting agents is what I do. Making a good profile relevant to agents is not the same as the profile you would send to a buyer or your usual "campaign". I call my profile for agents, distributors and retail partners The International Partner Profile and over the last 15 years it has worked well for me. I spend a lot of time on this & it has worked better to get agents than the usual brand deck, a bit less "pretty" and often different information, and I have very good reasons for that. One thing I always like is a photo "on the rails" as I call it. As well as the fancy campaign, model shots etc a good photo "on the rails" gives the agent an idea what the brand will look like in their showroom, they can picture/ imagine it in their showroom, a bit like a consumer pictures wearing one of your styles = halfway to selling it. A few images of the brand "live" make a small difference and small things count as we know. Trade fair pics do the job too. For retail brands, they can use some store shots, equally as effective but if you are wholesale only next time the photographer is about, get a few showroom or "live" shots too. The below pic is the U.K.'s number 1 independent girlswear brand A*Dee. If you go to the LinkedIn Fashion Compass company page you can see all the Menswear, Womenswear, Childrenswear, Footwear and Accessory Brands. Thank you.

Think hiring a full-time designer is your only option? Think again. The footwear industry is facing tough economic challenges. But there's a solution – hiring a contract footwear designer. Why? 1. Cost-Efficiency - No overheads of a full-time designer. - Get top-tier talent when you need it. - Save money and resources. 2. Fresh Innovation - Avoid stagnation. - I inject fresh, market-ready ideas. - Keep your brand ahead. 3. Speed and Efficiency - I deliver high-quality designs quickly. - Respond to market demands fast. 4. Less Hassle - Forget administrative headaches. - I handle the creative work. - You focus on growth. Smart decisions are more important now than ever before. Partnering with me means gaining a dedicated expert. No long-term costs. 👉 Ready to elevate your brand? DM me and let’s discuss how I can help you thrive. #FootwearDesign #FreelanceDesigner #Innovation #CostEfficiency #BrandGrowth #DesignStrategy

8 things successful Start-ups and Global billion-dollar brands both do before hiring a footwear design and development consultant: 1.    Define their need. 2.    Have a realistic budget. 3.    Understand the project timeline. 4.    Research the type of experience and expertise needed. 5.    Identify an in-house project point person. 6.    Only consider designers or consultancies that are insured and registered. 7.    Read recommendations and reach out to references. 8.    Study and understand all letters of agreement/contracts before signing. The bottom line is that hiring a design consultant is no different from any other project or hire. Set yourself and your team up for success by doing your research and preparation. From your personal experiences, is there anything we forgot and should add to the list? Need to hire a footwear design and development consultant but not sure where to start with an item(s) on the above list? Reach out to learn how we can help guide you in the right direction. #footweardesign #footwearindustry #footwearinnovation #levelupyourlinkedin #footwearexpert #footwearindustryexpert #footwearconsultant #shoes #shoedesign #fashion #industrialdesign #graphicdesign

#hiring Head of Sole Supply, Hong Kong, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #HongKongIslandjobs #ExecutivePositions Apply: https://lnkd.in/dW8DCbxz Are there any specific qualifications required for this role? Please specify detail below.: No Job Advert Clarks has been defining retail fashion for almost 200 years. Just because our brand has an amazing history, though, doesn't mean we're not looking to the future. We've got some big plans in that area-and it's our people who will deliver them. That's why, right now, we're recruiting a Head of Sole Supply to support the company's quest to continue to provide quality crafted shoes for our community.The roleAs the technical partner, the Head of Sole Supply works closely with the Product Development and Designer teams to give recommendations on each season's new projects. This person will need to provide solutions specific to materials, structure and construction with considerations of the production process and understanding of the product cost. Build and maintain effective working relationships with the suppliers, developing a strong working knowledge of their capability and availability to meet demands.About youYou are a technical expert in footwear development and production and can influence and support the Design and Product Development Teams. With your commercial awareness and understanding of costs, you also use this information to help the team make decisions. You have experience managing and negotiating with vendors and have excellent communication skills in order to effectively share information and work cross functional teams. You have the courage to be innovative and have the commitment to drive continuous improvement and to share best practice. About ClarksClarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. Sparking revolutions and defining generations, Clarks' archive of over 22,000 pairs includes the inimitable Desert Boot and Wallabee - and a ground-breaking combination of invention and craftsmanship remains at the heart of what the brand does now. Cutting-edge collaborations with cultural icons and KOLs, taking strides in social change, reimagining legendary silhouettes, and making shoes that move with the world ahead - Clarks is never standing still.We love hearing from great peopleVisit us at follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Just look As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organisation. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age ,disability, marital status, colour ,race ,religion, ethnic origin,

Excited to Share My Internship Project! Thrilled to present my maiden internship project on Footwear sector! 👟 Highlights: 1. Market Growth Projection: Indian footwear market set to soar to $90 billion by 2030, driven by the rise of non-leather options like sports shoes and sneakers. 2. Global Position: India ranks second globally in footwear production, with a strong foothold in leather shoes, boasting $2.2 billion in exports in 2022. 3. Domestic Spending and Preferences: Indians spend an average of $18.2 per person on footwear, favoring leather shoes, which hold a 70% market share. 4. Investment and Employment: Industry employs 4.42 million people, with a push needed for investment in non-leather shoe design and production facilities. 5. Market Trends and Changes: Growing preference for non-leather footwear among fashion-forward consumers, potentially impacting small-scale leather shoe producers. 6. Strategies for Industry Growth: Focus on reducing imports, promoting local production, attracting foreign manufacturers, and investing in design and R&D centers. 7. Challenges and Opportunities: India faces hurdles in expanding its global share in non-leather footwear but has opportunities for growth by emphasizing quality, design, and technology. ❖Join the Conversation :- I would love to hear your thoughts on the Footwear Sector. Feel free to share your comments and insights below! ✅ Follow Me :- For more engaging content and financial insights, feel free to follow me (Bharat Jhamb). I would like to thank you to Piyush Kumar and Global Consilient Research for their guidance. ▶ Comment your views. ▶ Repost if you found it insightful 💡 Please note that the following statement is not a recommendation, and I do not have any position in it.

#hiring Head of Sole Supply, Hong Kong, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #HongKongIslandjobs #ExecutivePositions Apply: https://lnkd.in/dW8DCbxz Are there any specific qualifications required for this role? Please specify detail below.: No Job Advert Clarks has been defining retail fashion for almost 200 years. Just because our brand has an amazing history, though, doesn't mean we're not looking to the future. We've got some big plans in that area-and it's our people who will deliver them. That's why, right now, we're recruiting a Head of Sole Supply to support the company's quest to continue to provide quality crafted shoes for our community.The roleAs the technical partner, the Head of Sole Supply works closely with the Product Development and Designer teams to give recommendations on each season's new projects. This person will need to provide solutions specific to materials, structure and construction with considerations of the production process and understanding of the product cost. Build and maintain effective working relationships with the suppliers, developing a strong working knowledge of their capability and availability to meet demands.About youYou are a technical expert in footwear development and production and can influence and support the Design and Product Development Teams. With your commercial awareness and understanding of costs, you also use this information to help the team make decisions. You have experience managing and negotiating with vendors and have excellent communication skills in order to effectively share information and work cross functional teams. You have the courage to be innovative and have the commitment to drive continuous improvement and to share best practice. About ClarksClarks, based in Somerset, England, has been at the forefront of innovative shoemaking since its foundation in 1825, when brothers James and Cyrus Clark made a slipper from sheepskin off-cuts. Sparking revolutions and defining generations, Clarks' archive of over 22,000 pairs includes the inimitable Desert Boot and Wallabee - and a ground-breaking combination of invention and craftsmanship remains at the heart of what the brand does now. Cutting-edge collaborations with cultural icons and KOLs, taking strides in social change, reimagining legendary silhouettes, and making shoes that move with the world ahead - Clarks is never standing still.We love hearing from great peopleVisit us at follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Just look As a global employer, Clarks is committed to embracing diversity throughout our workforce by creating an inclusive environment that reflects the many cultures and locations where we work. We strive to create a productive environment which everyone has an equal chance to succeed at all levels through the organisation. We will not discriminate on the basis of sex, age ,disability, marital status, colour ,race ,religion, ethnic origin,