Assistant Buyer

Smallworld Accessories Limited; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Birthday day off

Healthcare plan

Team events

Job summary

Smallworld Accessories Limited in Lewes, East Sussex, is seeking an experienced Assistant Buyer for a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover. Hybrid working, 37.5 hours per week, with exposure to multiple UK retailers and a broad product range in fashion accessories.

You will support product selection, range building and development, using sales and trend insights, and you’ll work directly with suppliers on samples, costings, orders and delivery schedules while coaching the Buyer’s Admin Assistant.

Qualifications

• Experience as Assistant Buyer or equivalent in fashion buying.
• Degree in fashion or related subject.
• Experience across range building, product development and in-season trading.
• Strong product eye and awareness of trends.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support product selection, range building and development.
• Use sales, stock, margin, competitor and trend insights to identify opportunities and make recommendations.
• Work directly with suppliers on samples, costings, orders and delivery schedules.
• Manage purchase orders and critical-path activity to keep products and launches on track.
• Bring ideas and a clear point of view to range, creative and trading meetings.
• Line manage and coach the Buyer’s Admin Assistant.

Skills

Fashion buying experience

Commercial awareness

Supplier communication

Education

Degree in fashion

Job description

12-month fixed-term maternity cover – 37.5 hours per week | Hybrid working | Lewes, East Sussex

Smallworld Accessories is a fast-growing fashion accessories concessionaire. We design, ethically source and supply trend-led products to more than 1,500 stores nationwide, partnering with major UK retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, John Lewis and Next. Our product portfolio is anything but predictable. We create everything from sunglasses, belts and jewellery to hair accessories, children’s ranges and complete back-to-school kits, while continuing to explore new categories and opportunities.

We’re looking for an experienced Assistant Buyer with a genuine passion for fashion and accessories to join our close-knit Buying team and work collaboratively with colleagues across the wider business. The current postholder is due to begin maternity leave in December, so we’re recruiting now to allow time for a thorough handover and introduction to our products, suppliers and ways of working.

Make a visible impact

Working closely with the Buyer, you’ll combine product judgement with commercial awareness to help shape customer-relevant ranges. From identifying opportunities and recommending products to seeing those products reach stores nationwide, your contribution will be clear and tangible.

You will:

• Support product selection, range building and development.
• Use sales, stock, margin, competitor and trend insights to identify opportunities and make recommendations.
• Work directly with suppliers on samples, costings, orders and delivery schedules.
• Manage purchase orders and critical-path activity to keep products and launches on track.
• Bring ideas and a clear point of view to range, creative and trading meetings.
• Line manage and coach the Buyer’s Admin Assistant.

About you

You’ll already be working as an Assistant Buyer or have previous experience operating at an equivalent level within a fashion buying environment.

You will also bring:

• A degree in fashion, fashion buying, fashion management or another relevant fashion-related subject.
• Experience across range building, product development and in-season trading.
• A strong product eye, genuine passion for fashion and accessories, and an active awareness of emerging trends.
• Confidence working with suppliers and interpreting sales, stock and margin information.
• Strong organisation and the ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

What you can expect

• Broad exposure to different product categories and major UK retailers.
• A supportive and collaborative environment where ideas are welcomed.
• Hybrid working, with the team typically based in our Lewes office from Tuesday to Thursday. This may occasionally vary according to business needs.
• A day off for your birthday.
• Access to our healthcare plan and lifestyle and savings platform, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.
• Company events and activities organised by our dedicated social committee.

If you’re an experienced fashion Assistant Buyer looking for variety, meaningful responsibility and broad exposure across the business, we’d love to hear from you.

Smallworld Accessories is an equal opportunities employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.