Assistant Buyer

Mountain Warehouse; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Holiday allowance

Staff discount

Pension scheme

Job summary

Mountain Warehouse is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Buyer to grow with the team. The role requires experience at Assistant Buyer level, a sharp eye for detail and the ability to develop strong relationships across the business.

You will assist in seasonal range planning for UK, EU and North America, work with the Head of Buying to maximise profits, and actively manage stock, promotions and supplier collaborations to deliver value-driven merchandise.

Qualifications

• Experience at Assistant Buyer level within an own buy retailer.
• Experience of fully managing the critical path for the department.
• Aware of competitors and helping Mountain Warehouse stay best value on the high street.
• Confident in proposing product type and quantity given the budgeted OTB.
• Strong IT skills, especially Excel.
• Commercial awareness and knowledge of market trends.
• Able to understand customer needs and demands (price, quality, availability).

Responsibilities

• Assist in seasonal range plan development and forecasting.
• Buy for UK, EU and North America.
• Collaborate with Head of Buying to maximise profits and maintain viable ranges.
• Review stock, sales, and orders to meet targets.
• Maintain supplier relationships.
• Coordinate with other departments to deliver projects.
• Support promotions, markdowns, and clearance events.
• Create product style books and ensure branding consistency.
• Manage critical path from development to delivery.
• Oversee sample process and ensure designs meet brand requirements.
• Coordinate lab dips and trims feedback to suppliers.
• Mentor the Buying Assistant/Assistant Buyer (BAA).
• Approve PTS for shipments.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Market awareness

Relationship building

Tools

Excel

Job description

Assistant Buyer

Application Deadline: 12 December 2026

Department: Buying

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London

Description

We are seeking an enthusiastic, resourceful, hardworking Assistant Buyer to grow with the company and add value to our team. Experience at an Assistant Buyer level is necessary, as is an exceptional eye for detail, the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships across all areas of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting in seasonal range plan development - analysing customer buying patterns, forecasting sales and predicting future trends, presenting findings in reports and presentations in a clear and logical format, this will include ratio calculations for size and colour;
• Buying for three key territories which include the UK, EU and North America.
• Work with your Head of buying to maximize profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices.
• Assisting in regularly reviewing stock, sales and orders and react with necessary urgency to ensure sales, stock & profit targets are achieved;
• Maintaining relationships with suppliers.
• Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed;
• Participating in promotional activities, helping the buying and merchandising team to identify slow moving stock, suggesting marks downs or promotions, as well as coordinating promotions and clearance events in store;
• Creating style books for products, identify when to update trim labels, fabrications and packaging, and liaise with graphic designer to ensure a consistent brand image;
• Managing the critical path, monitoring all orders from initial product development through to delivery, ensuring the smooth running of the development process, maintaining delivery schedules and key deadlines throughout;
• Managing sample process ensuring all designs and fabrications are executed correctly, meeting brand requirements;
• Lab dip and trim approvals and feeding back to suppliers
• Training and mentoring the BAA in the team.
• Approving PTS, for shipments.

Attend fit meetings with QC, making suggestions on fit, styling, trims etc.., as well as signing off sample

We would like to meet someone who is

• You will have relevant experience at Assistant Buyer level within an own buy retailer
• Experience of fully managing the critical path for your department
• Be aware of competitors and help to try and keep MW the best value on the high street
• Confident approach to offer suggestions on the type and quantity of product for the department given the budgeted OTB
• Good interpersonal skills – able to build and manage relationships with colleagues and suppliers, communication is key at all times
• Strong IT skills most importantly in Excel or equivalent
• Commercial and keeps up to date and aware of market trends, changes in demand
• Able to fully understand customer needs and demands (e.g. price, quality, availability)

Strong time management skills and able to prioritize as this is a never-ending job and there will always be more to be done

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working, 4 days in London based office & 1 working from home
• Holiday allowance
• 50% staff discount & 25% for family and friends
• Pension scheme