Buyer

Universal Store

From our humble beginnings as a suburban unisex clothing store in 1999, we’ve grown to more than 100 stores nationally and now deliver the latest in apparel to customers around the world through our thriving online store. Our team carefully curates a mix of local and international labels, working collaboratively to develop exclusive styles and collections that give our customers head to toe outfitting options for every occasion.

Today, we’re proud to be recognised as one of Australia’s leading youth fashion retailers. We’ve built and grown brands such as Neovision, Common Need, Luck & Trouble, and Worship, and we continue to partner with global favourites including Front Runner, Abrand, Rusty, Lioness, Motel. As our business has expanded, we’ve welcomed the Perfect Stranger and Thrills brands into our portfolio, allowing us to offer an even broader range of fits, styles and pieces that reflect the diversity of our customer base.

No matter the style, our mission remains the same: elevate every outfit and deliver customer service that goes above and beyond.

The Opportunity

Are you obsessed with trends, product and creating ranges that customers can't wait to get their hands on? We've got an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded and trend-focused Buyer who thrives on balancing creativity with analytics! 

Reporting to the Senior Buyer and based at our Eagle Farm Support Office, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our product offering, identifying emerging trends and curating market-leading assortments that inspire our customers and drive commercial success. You'll be responsible for owning your category, leveraging data and customer insights to make informed decisions, and building strong partnerships with both local and global brands.

Key responsibilities include:

Shaping the future of your category by identifying the brands, products and trends our customers will be wearing next season

Bringing together trend insight, commercial thinking and customer understanding to create winning assortments

Owning the performance of your category, using data and insight to drive sales, profitability and growth

Influencing product direction through a deep understanding of youth culture, fashion movements and customer behaviour

Building strong partnerships with some of the industry's most exciting local and global brands

Discovering emerging brands and product opportunities that keep Universal Store at the forefront of youth fashion

Managing the buying cycle from planning and selection through to in-season trading and performance analysis

Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure every product launch and seasonal story lands with impact

Balancing inventory, demand and opportunity to achieve strong commercial outcomes

Keeping your finger firmly on the pulse through trend forecasting, competitor analysis, market research and industry events

About You 

You're naturally curious, always on the lookout for what's next, and get genuine satisfaction from seeing a product or brand you've backed become a customer favourite. 

You'll bring:

Experience in a Buyer, Junior Buyer or Category Buyer role within fashion, accessories, apparel, streetwear or a fast-paced retail environment

A strong understanding of the youth fashion landscape and a genuine passion for trends, brands, product and customer behaviour

Proven success building assortments that deliver on both customer demand and commercial performance

The ability to identify emerging trends and translate them into relevant, commercially successful product opportunities

Strong analytical and commercial acumen, with confidence interpreting sales data, identifying opportunities and making informed buying decisions

Experience managing category performance, inventory, forecasting and Open-to-Buy budgets

Well-developed supplier and brand management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and negotiate positive commercial outcomes

A proactive and agile mindset, with the confidence to react quickly to changing trends and trading conditions

Excellent organisational skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-moving retail environment

A collaborative approach and the ability to build strong relationships across Buying, Planning, Marketing, Retail and eCommerce teams

You know your way around an Excel spreadsheet and have confidence working with reporting, forecasting and product analysis tools

A passion for discovering new brands, identifying opportunities and bringing exciting product to market before everyone else

What We Offer

A vibrant, collaborative workplace culture with a supportive and growth driven leadership team

Exclusive staff discounts across our brands, plus access to partner deals and offers through Flare

Free on-site parking and generous facilities at our modern, purpose-built Support Office located in Eagle Farm 

Learning & Development opportunities - Grow your career with us! 

Hybrid working arrangements with flexibility to work from home 

Salary sacrificing and novated leasing options

Company paid parental leave

Wellbeing support through Sonder and regular wellness initiatives

Regular social events and team activities

Our Values

Care for Everyone

Here to Help

Make it Work

Better Than Good

Contribute

Ready to take the next step?

Apply now with your resume and cover letter showcasing your interest and experience!