Assistant Buyer

AO; Bolton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading electrical retailer in Bolton is looking for an Assistant Buyer in the Cooking category. This role involves ensuring product details are accurate, analyzing market trends, and collaborating with suppliers to optimize the product range. The ideal candidate should have strong Excel skills and a passion for retail. Competitive benefits include generous leave, pension contributions, and discounts on products.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

5% pension contribution matching

Discounted gym membership

Health and wellbeing support

Exclusive product discounts

Enhanced family leave

Paid charity leave

Free parking and breakfast perks

Qualifications

• Experience with excel and analytical skills required.
• Ability to prioritize tasks within tight timescales.
• Strong communication skills and a passion for retail.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all products are set up with correct details and specifications.
• Track competitor activity to improve category performance.
• Support the buyer in creating an inspiring product range.
• Collaborate for successful promotional plan launches.
• Maintain systems with correct pricing and investigate discrepancies.
• Build relationships to deliver commercial opportunities.
• Assist Buyer in supplier negotiations.
• Attend range reviews for strategy discussions.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Strong analytical skills

Ability to work under pressure

Passion for retail

Job description

About The Role

Kick Start Your Career as an Assistant Buyer at AO!

As an Assistant Buyer in our Cooking category, you’ll help shape a product range packed with the latest must-have items that customers will love.

This isn’t just a job - it’s your chance to learn the ropes of buying, work with leading global brands, and develop the skills that will help to set you up for a future as a Buyer. You’ll be part of a supportive, encouraging, and fun team based in our Bolton office, where collaboration and growth go hand in hand.

If you’re ambitious, curious, and ready to make an impact, this is the perfect opportunity to start your journey in the world of buying!

Closing date Monday 1st December. If shortlisted, interviews scheduled for 9th and 10th December

Our people are our superpower, and we’re unstoppable when we’re together! We want your ideas to flow, and what better way to make that happen than being based onsite, 5 days a week, where our culture fuels creativity, collaboration and growth. If a £1 bet in the pub between two friends can become the UKs most trusted electrical retailer, imagine what else can be achieved when we we’re together!

Here’s What You Can Expect To Be Doing

• Take pride in making sure all products are set-up with the correct details, specifications, images and videos to offer the best journey for our customer
• Keep track of competitor activity and offer suggestions to improve category performance
• Use sales and market information to support the buyer in creating a product range that is inspiring for the customer, relevant to the market and achieves department goals
• Update and implement the promotional plan and collaborate with marketing and supply chain on the successful launch
• Accurately keep all systems up to date with correct prices and investigate any discrepancies with urgency
• Establish and build strong relationships internally and externally to deliver the best commercial opportunities
• Assist the Buyer in negotiating with suppliers
• Attend range reviews with brands to discuss the strategy & interact with products

A Few Things About You

• Strong experience with excel and analytical skills
• Ability to work well under pressure, prioritise and work within tight timescales
• Passionate and confident to be able to stand up for what is right for AO and our customers
• A drive and desire to pursue a career in a fast-paced retail environment

A Bit About Us

When it comes to appliances and electricals, we’ve got the lot. Washing machines? Yep. TVs? Check. Laptops? Absolutely. Everything except doorbells (just kidding, we’ve got those too).

We’re known for helping our customers brilliantly – and it’s no different for AOers. We care about more than what’s on your CV, because together we can do extraordinary things.

Our Benefits

Our benefits are designed to cover the moments that matter to AOers. From health and wellness to giving back - you’ll be rewarded inside and outside of work.

• Holidays; 25 days, plus bank holidays (increasing to 27 days after 2 years with us!)
• Pension; Contribute 5% of your annual salary and we'll do the same, giving you a little extra support for the future.
• Be a VIP at the AO Arena; we have loads of opportunities to win free tickets and pre-sale access!
• Health & wellbeing; discounted gym membership, an onsite spa and our Help @ Hand scheme giving you access to virtual GP’s, Mental Health support and much more.
• Discounts; exclusive discounts across our product range.
• Family leave; Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave.
• Making a difference; 2 fully paid days a year to donate your time to any charity of your choice.
• On site perks; start your day with free on site parking, grabbing a complimentary breakfast and a coffee at our subsidised Starbucks!

To see all our benefits and perks, visit our AO Benefits page.