If you want a foot in the door of retail buying right now, the Ares Holdings Buyer Internship 2026 is waiting for you. The deadline is fast approaching, and the experience can launch a career in merchandising, planning or e‑commerce.
What the internship involves
This is a 6‑month, full‑time internship based in Cape Town, Western Cape. You will work with the buying and planning teams, handling sales data, stock reports and product performance. The role mixes retail decisions with heavy data analysis, so you will see how trends, pricing and customer behaviour shape what ends up on the shelves.
Who can apply
You need a relevant tertiary qualification (e.g., BCom, BSc, or a diploma in retail, commerce or supply chain). The employer also expects 1–2 years of experience in a related role such as retail administration, stock control, merchandising, buying support or store work. The following traits are essential:
- Comfort with large data sets and Excel
- Strong organisational and deadline‑driven attitude
- Attention to detail and problem‑solving ability
- Basic understanding of supply‑chain processes
- Interest in lifestyle footwear trends
- Valid South African driver’s licence and own transport (local travel required)
What you will gain
The internship gives you practical exposure to:
- Analyzing sales trends by price, category, region and customer segment
- Preparing purchase‑order reviews and seasonal line lists
- Supporting inventory planning, stock turnover improvement and shortage prevention
- Creating reports that influence product assortment and pricing decisions
- Communicating findings to stores and supply‑chain partners
These skills are highly valued in retail buying, merchandising, analytics and supply‑chain roles.
How to apply – step by step
- Gather the required documents:
- Updated CV highlighting retail, data or buying experience
- Copy of South African ID (if requested)
- Proof of your tertiary qualification (certificates, transcripts)
- Evidence of relevant work experience (reference letters, payslips)
- Copy of your driver’s licence
- Visit the official application portal: Ares Holdings Buyer Internship 2026 – Apply here.
- Complete the online form and upload the documents listed above.
- Double‑check that your contact details are correct and that the most relevant experience appears at the top of your CV.
- Submit before the closing date.
Tips to improve your chances
- Tailor your CV to the role. Put “Retail buying & data analysis” and any Excel or stock‑system experience in the first two lines.
- Use concrete examples: “Created weekly sales performance reports for 20 stores” is stronger than “Good with numbers”.
- If you have store experience with lifestyle footwear, mention the brand names and the tasks you performed.
- Proofread your application for spelling and formatting errors – recruiters skim quickly.
- Apply early. Waiting until the last day may mean you miss the chance to fix a weak CV.
Final thoughts and next steps
The Ares Holdings Buyer Internship 2026 offers hands‑on experience in the core decisions that drive retail success. With a closing date of 13 July 2026, you have a short window to act. Make sure you meet the qualification and experience criteria, prepare a focused CV, and submit through the official portal. This could be the first step toward a rewarding career in retail buying, merchandising or supply‑chain analytics.