Experienced Assistant Buyer

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THE ROLE: Assistant Buyer on ECOM DRESSES
Buying is the department that brings together creative inspiration & commercial planning to deliver the best ranges for our customer. Product is at the heart of everything we do, from developing the best prints for dresses, the must have coat of the season or the ‘It’ bag. Always thinking ‘customer first’ we work hard with our suppliers in the UK & across the world to deliver fashion at amazing prices & as quickly as possible. Buying is fast paced and exciting & every day is unique.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU

40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
Private pension scheme
Profit related bonus scheme
Option to join our Healthcare Private Medical Scheme
Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING :
Planning

Sound understanding of the Business Strategy and how that impacts your Department
Applying knowledge of the current competitive market place and trends, and inputting into the direction of the department
Solid understanding of the Department’s current Customer insights, Market Share and opportunities
Working in conjunction with Marketing and Ecommerce, supporting with Windows and Photo Shoots
Assisting in Department Strategy Planning preparation

Buying

Assist the Product Development process from Design brief to launch, liaising with Design, Marketing and other relevant departments
Negotiating the best cost price to achieve departmental margin targets
Understanding product trends and interpreting them where relevant into product area
Ensuring input to the Assortment Planning tool and other data / system management, in a timely manner
Understanding the appropriate sourcing route and Supplier for ProductMonitoring Critical Path on Commitment to insure intake and distribution targets are metAttending Fit sessions in the Buyers absence give styling Comments

Suppliers

Managing Supplier relationships and KPI’s, including monitoring sampling requirements in line with projected levels of business
Negotiating and liaising with Suppliers

Trading

Understanding of reports and actions that may need to be taken on TradeManaging the critical path, making adaptations (where required) to react to market changes and challenges


Sharing of information where possible on Product, Suppliers, Best /Worst Sellers within the business area

Product Awareness

Monitor, maintain and action competitor analysis (comparative shopping)

Team

Supporting with the development of fellow colleagues, delivering relevant training and support where required
Collaboratively working with Merchandising, Design and Technical colleagues
Acting as a positive role model for the Team and peers


WHO YOU ARE :

Experience at Assistant Buyer level - ideally on knitwear
Customer knowledge and a strong fashion eye
Good interpersonal / communication skills
Ability to support, train and develop the Buying Admin Assistant
Ability to initiate, build and maintain relationships with Design, Merchandising, QA and Suppliers
Solid presentation skills
Risk assessment and SWOT analysis skills
Numerical and analytical skills