Assistant Buyer - Menswear

Crew Clothing; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned clothing retailer in the UK is seeking an Assistant Buyer to support product delivery and drive profitable sales growth. The role includes managing the product development process, overseeing the critical path, and liaising with suppliers to ensure quality and timely deliveries. Ideal candidates should have strong communication, organizational skills, and a desire to learn about garment production. The company offers staff discounts, a pension scheme, and a supportive culture.

Benefits

Staff Discount

Uniform allowance

Pension scheme

Refer a Friend scheme

Training and career development

Supportive and rewarding culture

Qualifications

• Experience in the same or similar role.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a work schedule under tight deadlines.
• Skilled in the management of others.

Responsibilities

• Assist Buyer in the product development process.
• Oversee buying information for accuracy.
• Manage the critical path weekly.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Computer literacy in Excel/Outlook/Word

Relationship building

Time management

Teamwork

Understanding of buying function

Job description

Overview

The Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer in the smooth and commercial delivery of the Crew product range to drive profitable sales growth. This role supports the management of the process to ensure that the collections, once designed are appropriately priced and that they are effectively produced to the quality expectations of the Crew customer and in line with department and business expectations.

Accountable for

• Assisting Buyer in all aspects of the product development process
• Buy and develop ranges inline with agreed range and in line with business strategy
• Contracting orders to suppliers for all dept to Critical Path (delegating to BAA, if necessary)
• Oversee buying info on the range plan to ensure 100% accuracy and information entered in a timely manner
• Sample Management
• Critical path management

Range Development

• Develop ranges to agreed plan and margin, making sure they are inline with agreed supply partners
• Place orders and manage to 95% availability
• Maximise sales through trading and strategy (within agreed parameters)
• Manage critical path and own all approval stages
• Liaise with suppliers and sourcing to manage opportunities
• Liaise with merchandiser to produce lessons learnt for future ranges
• Produce monthly market and competitor reports to form strategies for future ranges
• Present ranges in sign off
• Be aware of sales and performance
• Understand cost price/margin/quantity requirements

Critical path and fit process

• Update and manage the critical path weekly
• Report exceptions to all channel launch dates to buyer on weekly basis
• Liaise weekly with direct team, merchandising and technical through garment approval stages and update critical path
• Delegate or approve fabrics, colours and garment trims to delivery
• Attend fit sessions and approve through quickest technical staging
• Report to Buyer on QC issues to solutions
• Raise and follow through debit notes for late deliveries and ensure they are listed on logistics report

Samples

• Ensure timely delivery of SMS and photo shoot samples according to critical path
• Manage SMS tracker and liaise with channels on handover
• Manage invoicing and courier charges for SMS samples (according to budget)
• Work with technical to manage fit sessions and sample organisation
• Arrange samples for sign off. Take notes and liaise on amendments to range plans
• Manage sample storage and delegate department tidiness to BAA, if necessary

People

• Manage workload of Admin Assistant
• Work cross functionally on proof approvals for product collateral and input buying information to product database

Essential Qualifications

• Experience in same or similar role
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Excellent computer literacy in Excel/Outlook/Word
• Ability to prioritise and manage a work schedule whilst working to tight deadlines
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with suppliers and other department members
• Team work but motivated and able to work independently
• Understanding of the buying function and critical path processes
• Skilled in management of others
• Able to work with pace and energy

Desirable Qualifications

• Desire to learn understanding of garment construction and production processes
• Passion for product and keen to learn
• Positive and solutions orientated
• Keen to progress within the role

Company Values

At Crew Clothing, we believe clothes are about so much more than "just clothes". Designed with the spirit of the south coast in every stitch, our crossed oars are a mark of timeless British style. These are clothes for life's best moments. We believe in collaboration, kindness and creativity, in celebrating our successes and championing our customer at every step of the way. From '93 to now, people have been at the heart of everything we do. It's in our name - Crew.

What we can offer you

• Staff Discount
• Uniform allowance
• Pension scheme
• Refer a Friend scheme
• Training and career development
• Supportive and rewarding culture