Assistant Buyer - Bodywear (Full-time)

Selfridges; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Selfridges is seeking an Assistant Buyer for the Bodywear department. You will support the Buyer in sourcing brands and products, and negotiate the best terms with suppliers to drive sales and profitability.

Working closely with the Buyer, Buying Manager, Merchandiser and Brand partners, you will assist with range planning, seasonal launches, and trade analysis while ensuring compliance with Selfridges processes. A strong commercial mindset and excellent communication are essential.

Responsibilities

• Support the Buyer across the Bodywear business and ensure thorough knowledge of product and market
• Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers (margin, trade discounts, markdown support) with the Buyer and Head of Buying
• Forge strong partnerships with brand partners
• Assist with range planning and seasonal launches with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying
• Provide weekly trade packs and present key findings to Senior stakeholders
• Analyse performance with the Merchandiser and make recommendations to keep or discontinue products
• Communicate effectively with retail operations teams about new season launches and product training
• Collaborate with Marketing and PR to identify promotional opportunities during supplier negotiations
• Oversee re-ordering within the OTB structure and ensure timely communication to the Administrator
• Conduct market research into key trends and develop look books for the area
• Support the wider team and monitor workload as needed
• Coordinate with VM to optimise product placement and department performance
• Share responsibilities in areas with a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer

Job description

As an Assistant Buyer, you will be responsible for our Bodywear Buying department, supporting the Buyer in sourcing brands and product. You will work with the Buyer to negotiate the best terms for the business with suppliers. To ensure the ordering process is efficient and compliant with Selfridges processes and to assist the Buying Admin team where necessary.

As Assistant Buyer, you will:

• Supporting the buyer across the Bodywear business – ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market
• Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, trade discounts, markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate
• Forge strong partnerships with our brand partners
• Work with the Buyer and Buying Manager to ensure that Buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit
• Monitor and review trade in season, making trading recommendations to the Buyer/Buying Manager where necessary
• Support the Buyers Admin with weekly trade packs, feeding back and presenting key findings to Senior stakeholders
• Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying
• Work with the Merchandiser to analyse performance, making recommendations to the Buyer i.e. to keep or discontinue within the business
• Communicate effectively with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
• Work closely with Marketing and PR and to be aware of promotional opportunities during negotiations with suppliers
• Be responsible for re-ordering, working within the OTB structure, ensuring decisions are communicated to the Administrator good time
• Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area
• Where relevant, to supervise the wider team and monitor workload
• Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
• Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training
• N/B: in areas where there is a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer, this responsibility will be shared

A bit about you

Highly knowledgeable. You will have a well-developed understanding of the product/marketBuying Experience RequiredStrategic and operational. With strong analytical skills and experience driving long-term and profitable commercial strategies, you’ll be able to successfully manage projects through to completion.Engaging. Able to influence your stakeholders, retail and brands, you know how to use both data and market trends to drive commercial opportunitiesCustomer focused.Combined with exceptional taste and instinct, you are able to push theboundaries to offer new and exciting productAll over the numbers. You are numerate with a highly commercial approach, as well asproficient in excelCollaborative.Working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team you will support inprojects and cross functional meetings as appropriateOrganised with attention to detailExcellent interpersonal skillsAbility to influenceAn example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague