Assistant Buyer - Menswear

Matalan; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% staff discount

Thrive Recognition Scheme

Wellbeing support by Retail Trust

Life Assurance

Retail Rewards discounts

Pension Scheme

Career development opportunities

Additional role benefits

Job summary

Matalan is seeking a Menswear Assistant Buyer to work with the Buyer and Merchandising team to develop the product range, drive sales and margins, and build strong supplier relationships. You will analyse market trends, support strategy, and help translate trends into commercially viable ranges.

The role requires experience in fashion retail buying, strong trend awareness, and the ability to work under tight deadlines while delivering high-quality outputs.

Qualifications

• Experience in a trainee or assistant buying role within fashion retail.
• Menswear experience is essential.
• Knowledge of key trends and market analysis.
• Commercially aware with ability to translate insights into ranges.
• Able to work independently to tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills across levels.
• Experience in development and coaching is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing menswear product ranges to meet sales, stock and margin targets.
• Support strategy through defined reports and market research.
• Collaborate with Buyer, Merchandising and Designer to interpret trends into commercial ranges.
• Present ranges with samples and ensure margins align with strategy.
• Benchmark pricing and understand keyline process.
• Conduct store visits and regular shopping to inform range decisions.
• Build relationships with suppliers and mentor junior team members.

Skills

Trainee/Assistant buying

Menswear

Trends & market knowledge

Commercial awareness

Deadlines

Interpersonal skills

Development & coaching

Tools

None

Job description

As an Menswear Assistant Buyer, you’ll work closely with the Buyer to ensure the department achieves sales, stock and margin targets through the development of the product range, building and maintaining strong working relationships with the supplier base.

Strategy

• Work alongside the Buyer to provide defined reports that will support creation of strategy
• For a defined product range, undertake market and trend research and analysis to create a strategy proposal.
• Have an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the Divisional and overall Matalan strategy

Range Development for defined product range

• Work alongside Buyer & Merchandising team to develop shape of the range ensuring alignment with the overall departmental strategy & KPI’s
• Work alongside Buyer and Designer to interpret the trends and develop commercial ranges within the agreed strategy framework
• Pro-actively bring insight and ideas to support development of wider range
• Present specific ranges in a relevant and impactful way ensuring correct samples are used and all product delivers the agreed margins with support from the Buyer.
• Ensure pricing is well benchmarked and in line with company strategy
• Have full knowledge and understanding of the keyline process

Trading

• Using Monday Trading Reports be able to read and analyse Trade.
• Work with the TAB to ensure data and samples are pulled for Trade meetings on time.
• Highlight Best & Worst to the buyer alongside newness, problem lines and identifying opportunities alongside creation of a supporting commentary – done as part of weekly Trade and at sign off.
• For department, have knowledge of keylines, NOOS lines and event lines
• Work alongside the Merchandising team to ensure the critical path is followed and tracked, flagging any issues or opportunities to the Buyer
• Conduct regular shopping and benchmarking trips highlighting opportunities, price architecture and VM principles
• Following the correct procedure, ensure regular store visits are conducted. Gather relevant feedback to report back to the team.

Suppliers

• Pro-actively build and maintain positive and professional working relationships with key suppliers

Divisional Support

• Ensure preparation for selections, sign offs and supplier meetings is accurate, organised and completed to a high standard
• Clear understanding of Marketing protocol and needs
• Clear understanding of packaging requirements for defined range
• Deputise for the buyer as and when required.
• Build and maintain good relationships with the TAB population, acting as a role model and providing support / mentorship as needed
• Understand and as required, be able to facilitate the running of fit sessions

• Experienced within a Trainee or Assistant Buying role, preferably within fashion retail
• Menswear experience is essential
• Knowledge of key trends and market
• Commercially aware
• Ability to work independently to tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels
• Experience of development and coaching is essential.

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

In addition to competitive salaries, we also offer the below core benefits:

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business