Comany Overview:

Crown Asian Supermarket Pty Ltd operates three well-established Asian grocery stores across Melbourne: Crown Asian Supermarket on Elizabeth Street in the CBD, another Crown Asian Supermarket located inside Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood, and Kyoto Mart, a store that specialises in high-quality Japanese products.

All three stores focus on sourcing popular goods from China, Japan, and Korea, including snacks, instant noodles, beverages, alcohol, ice cream, and beauty and skincare products. These stores are highly regarded by the local Asian community, families, and younger mainstream consumers.

As the business continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced and dedicated Retail Buyer to manage the purchasing operations across all three stores. The role involves closely monitoring sales and stock performance, researching market trends, liaising with suppliers from China, Japan, and Korea for product selection, pricing negotiations and supply coordination. The Retail Buyer will also develop tailored purchasing strategies based on each store’s customer base and sales patterns, ensuring product availability, variety, and market alignment.

Responsibilities:

1. Monitor and analyse the sales data and inventory levels of various product categories across all stores, identifying best-sellers and slow movers, and proposing optimized purchasing and restocking plans.

2. Research new and trending products, and collect and analyse dynamic information from competitors in the same region or surrounding areas regarding pricing, promotions, and in-store displays, as well as staying updated on market trends in Australia.

3. Build and maintain long-term relationships with suppliers from different Asian countries, as well as local distributors in Australia, negotiating purchase prices, delivery schedules, promotional support, and stock discounts.

4. Develop personalized pricing strategies, product assortments, and promotional plans tailored to each store’s geographic location and customer base.

5. Launch targeted promotional campaigns based on various holidays and cultural events, ensuring appropriate product selection and marketing support.

6. Work closely with management to align purchasing plans with monthly and quarterly sales targets, and provide regular updates on market trends and store performance.

7. Proactively forecast seasonal demand peaks or supply chain risks, adjusting procurement plans to ensure adequate stock and product variety.

8. Assist in planning product displays and layouts to enhance visual appeal and shopping flow, optimizing the customer shopping experience and conversion rates.

Requirements:

1. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

2. At least five years of proven experience in retail purchasing.

3. Proven experience in handling procurement operations for multiple retail stores or locations.

4. Exceptional attention to detail and strong time management skills.

5. Excellent analytical skills with a data-driven and strategic mindset.

6. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers and internal teams.

7. Fluency in English is essential; bilingual proficiency (e.g., Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean) is highly desirable.

Employment type: Full time

Location: Melbourne VIC 3000