Buyer (Casual Brands)

ASOS.com Ltd; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent fashion retailer seeks a Buyer to create and manage a strategic product range for the 20-something customer demographic. This role involves collaborating with merchandising and marketing, driving KPIs, and utilizing market insights to innovate and enhance the buying process. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of fashion trends, exceptional strategic and relationship-building skills, and a focus on sustainability. The position offers opportunities for creativity and impact in a global fashion market.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail or fashion buying.
• Ability to analyze sales and trend data.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop cohesive product range aligned with brand strategy.
• Deliver department KPIs and monitoring performance.
• Anticipate needs of target customer using relevant data.
• Drive cost-saving initiatives for efficiency.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Trend analysis

Relationship building

Job description

Buyers play a critical role at ASOS, working closely with Merchandising teams to build a commercial and trend-led product range for the department that is loved by the ASOS 20-something customer. They are collaborative, organised, and strategic with their finger on the pulse of fashion - always looking to push the range for our global markets forward. In partnership with Merchandising, and with the support of relevant customer and market insights, Buyers are responsible for the delivery of sales and profit targets through a cohesive product strategy.

The Team

The Buying team is instrumental in making ASOS the leading destination for fashion-loving 20‑something customers across womenswear and menswear. The Branded Buying teams are responsible for creating and sourcing the brand mix for their department, covering big commercial brands through to high‑end designers and emerging brands, to offer our customer the most exciting fashion trends and create a point of difference in the global market.

What you’ll be doing

• Develop a cohesive range for the department, ensuring that product reflects the Brand strategy, the range is without gaps or duplication, and that the season is logically and commercially thought through
• Delivering department KPIs to drive margin and profit, identifying and addressing any risks, in partnership with Merchandising
• Anticipating the needs of the 20‑something customer, using sales and trend data to deliver commercial product ranges that account for global factors
• Trading effectively by identifying gaps in ranges and potentializing opportunities that will have the biggest impact on dept performance, whilst effectively managing risk
• Maintaining in‑depth knowledge of planning and trading documents, using them to shape category analysis and evolution of the buy
• Driving cost saving initiatives or ideas to become more cost efficient
• Effectively range building, taking into account Options, ALB strategy and global requirements, with the flexibility to pivot in season to potentialize or de‑risk
• Working closely with Merchandising to build cohesive lessons learnt and ensuring buying is within OTB, influencing trend and performance
• Building and leveraging relationships with a network of appropriate internal teams and external suppliers
• Keeping up to date with global trends and competitor activity, reviewing product strategy considering competitor activity and initiatives
• Maintaining a clear understanding of brand purpose and Fashion with Integrity and ensuring these principles are fully embedded within the team. Looking for opportunities to use sustainable materials wherever possible
• Working closely with Marketing to identify promotional and marketing opportunities for brand and ensure clear and consistent brand messaging
• Actively contributing to cross‑functional initiatives and projects, welcoming and championing change
• Leading and building a strong team of ABs and BAs, with a focus on growing future talent
• Providing clear direction and development to the team, identifying individual training needs and encouraging collaborative ways of working
• Motivating and engaging the team through recognition and regular feedback
• Developing Brands portfolio, considering desirability and relevance by segment. Identifying Brand churn/mapping
• Using the global market to source the most contemporary and trend‑led brand mix, ensuring commerciality and profit is delivered. Utilising shows, Instagram and street trends to drive newness and relevant
• Supporting our culture by championing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategies