Assistant Buyer/Merchandiser

Coco Group; Northampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Coco Group is seeking an Assistant Buyer/Merchandiser for an Oxfordshire-based entertainment venue. You will help deliver brand-aligned product ranges for major spectator events, ensuring the right stock, ranges and presentation to maximise sales and visitor experience.

The role blends product administration, supplier coordination, merchandising support and event planning, with weekend and extended hours during peak periods and potential Duty Manager duties.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of Buying or Merchandising experience within leisure or entertainment.
• Confident communication with suppliers and internal teams.
• Analytical mindset with strong numerical accuracy.
• Commercial awareness and a strong eye for product and presentation.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and juggle shifting priorities during events.
• Flexibility to work weekends and extended hours during peak event periods, and willingness to act as Duty Manager when required.

Responsibilities

• Buying and product support: plan ranges for major events, prepare buying packs, request samples, gather costings and MOQ data, maintain product data.
• Event range planning and merchandising: build event-specific range plans for all retail areas and support merchandising during event build-up.
• Trading and stock management: monitor sales, update stock reports, liaise with warehouse, set up promotions and sample sales.
• E-commerce coordination: ensure product info, imagery and launch details are accurate and timely.
• Supplier and internal coordination: manage orders, lead times, POs, supplier accounts and coordinate with Marketing on artwork.
• Quality and sample management: coordinate sample approvals and resolve quality issues.
• Barcode and labelling: allocate barcodes and perform scanning checks on stock.
• Administration: support invoice matching and record-keeping.

Skills

Buying experience

Merchandising

Supplier coordination

Stock management

Event merchandising

E-commerce support

Job description

Bring the product side of major spectator events to life

Our client, a global entertainment venue in Oxfordshire, is looking for an Assistant Buyer/Merchandiser to join its commercial and events teams. You will help deliver well-planned, brand-aligned product ranges for major spectator events, making sure every event area has the right ranges, stock levels and presentation standards to maximise sales and enhance the visitor experience.

This role blends product administration, supplier coordination, merchandising support and operational planning. Flexibility is essential: weekend working, extended hours during peak periods and stepping up to support event operations, including acting as Duty Manager when required, are part of the job.

What you will do

• Buying and product support: help select and plan ranges for major events and seasonal demand, prepare buying packs and product briefs, request samples, gather costings and MOQ details, and maintain accurate product data.
• Event range planning and merchandising: build event-specific range plans so every retail area across the circuit has a commercially balanced assortment, and support merchandising during event build-up.
• Trading and stock management: monitor sales during events, update stock reports and replenishment trackers, liaise with warehouse and operations teams, set up promotions and reduced pricing, and support sample sales.
• E-commerce coordination: work with the E-commerce Manager so product information, imagery and launch details are accurate and on time.
• Supplier and internal coordination: manage orders, lead times, packaging and quality, raise and track purchase orders, maintain critical paths, support staff uniform ordering, set up new supplier accounts with Finance, and liaise with Marketing on artwork and sign-off.
• Quality and sample management: coordinate sample approvals, check production against signed-off samples, resolve quality issues and run the sample room.
• Barcode and labelling: allocate barcodes to suppliers and carry out scanning checks on incoming stock.
• Administration: support invoice matching, resolve PO and invoice queries, keep records up to date, and prepare agendas and minutes.

What you will bring

• 2-3 years of Buying or Merchandising experience within leisure or entertainment
• Confident communication with suppliers and internal teams
• An analytical mindset with strong numerical accuracy
• Commercial awareness and a strong eye for product and presentation
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and juggle shifting priorities during events
• Flexibility to work weekends and extended hours during peak event periods, and willingness to act as Duty Manager when required

Nice to have

• Experience in events, retail, motorsport or product-focused environments

Why this role

You will see your work in front of thousands of visitors, shaping what they buy and how they experience some of the biggest spectator events around. It is a hands-on role at the heart of the commercial and events teams, ideal for someone who loves product and energy on event day.