Buyer (Maternity Cover)

Mint Velvet; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Life assurance

Discretionary bonus

Staff discount

Summer hours

Induction & development

Social activities

Job summary

Mint Velvet is seeking a Buyer (Accessories) for a 12-month maternity cover based in High Wycombe. You will develop and deliver a commercially successful accessories range aligned with Mint Velvet handwriting, while exceeding customer expectations.

Key responsibilities include leading range reviews, negotiating with suppliers, and collaborating with Design and Merchandising to drive sales, margin and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Buyer in fast-paced fashion retail.
• Footwear experience.
• Strong product eye with commercial awareness and financial understanding.
• Deep understanding of customer needs, trends and competitor activity.
• Ability to think strategically while balancing day-to-day trading decisions.
• Excellent analytical skills and data-driven decision making.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead fit sessions, range reviews and supplier negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a commercially successful accessory range that embodies the Mint Velvet brand handwriting.
• Contribute to and deliver the seasonal product strategy across your category and supply base.
• Develop, source and buy a balanced, commercially successful range maximizing sales, margin and profit.
• Collaborate with Design to translate trends into fashion-relevant product.
• Lead range reviews and fit sessions, making decisions to optimise fit, quality and performance.
• Own the range build and react quickly to trade performance.
• Build partnerships with Merchandising to create effective range plans and achieve targets.
• Analyse sales, customer and market data to drive informed product decisions.
• Maintain understanding of customer, trends and competitor activity across channels.
• Manage and source suppliers, visiting regularly to ensure timely delivery and negotiate costs.

Skills

Buyer experience

Footwear experience

Commercial awareness

Analytical skills

Trend awareness

Negotiation skills

Team leadership

Strategic thinking

Job description

Buyer (Maternity Cover)

Department: Buying

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: High Wycombe

Description

12-month maternity cover

Mint Velvet began when founders Liz Houghton and Lisa Agar-Rea set out to create an unfailingly chic collection of contemporary, great quality staples and elevated fits that they felt were missing from their wardrobes. Feeling frustrated that they couldn’t find anything they wanted to wear, or the great customer service they craved, they started fusing relaxed comfort with glamorous yet wearable fashion trends. Relaxed Glamour was born.

As collaborative creatives, we take untold pride in our work, designing with heart and soul. We want to be a force for good and are committed to becoming a more circular and responsible business, from the fabrics we choose to our considered processes. We are an agile and growing business, and we work hard to create an environment which allows for growth and progression, balanced with the support and flexibility needed to meet the challenge of a high-performance culture.

Our leadership teams and founders sit amongst the teams and encourage a culture of balance and passion. MV is a very special place, and our values are anchored by three main pillars: people, planet, and community.

Our Values

With Soul. Courage & Resilience. Passion & Drive. Entrepreneurial Spirit. Collaborative.

The Role

As Buyer on Accessories, you will be responsible for developing and delivering a commercially successful range that embodies the Mint Velvet brand handwriting while exceeding customer expectations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing to and delivering the seasonal product strategy, ensuring clear direction across your category and supply base.
• Developing, sourcing and buying a balanced, commercially successful range that maximises sales, margin and profit.
• Working closely with Design to interpret trends and translate them into product that is both fashion relevant and customer focused.
• Leading range reviews and fit sessions, making confident decisions that optimise fit, quality and commercial performance.
• Owning the range build, identifying opportunities and reacting quickly to trade performance throughout the season.
• Building strong partnerships with Merchandising to create effective range plans and achieve financial targets.
• Analysing sales, customer and market data to drive informed product decisions and maximise trading opportunities.
• Maintaining an exceptional understanding of the Mint Velvet customer, market trends and competitor activity across both retail and digital channels.
• Managing, developing and sourcing suppliers, building collaborative relationships to drive innovation, quality and speed to market.
• Regularly visiting suppliers and maintaining ownership of the critical path to ensure timely delivery.
• Leading supplier negotiations and managing costs, margins and pricing strategies.
• Preparing and presenting department performance reviews, delivery updates and seasonal product strategies.
• Developing, coaching and inspiring junior team members, creating a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Supporting cross-functional initiatives including photoshoots, range launches and key business projects.

What You'll Have

To be successful in this role, you'll be an established Buyer with strong fashion retail experience and a genuine passion for product.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience operating at Buyer level within a fast-paced fashion retail environment.
• Footwear experience.
• A strong product eye combined with excellent commercial awareness and financial understanding.
• A deep understanding of customer needs, emerging trends and competitor activity.
• The ability to think strategically while balancing day‑to‑day trading decisions.
• Excellent analytical skills and confidence using data to inform decision‑making.
• Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels internally and externally.
• Natural curiosity and a passion for identifying future opportunities and trends.
• Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Confidence leading fit sessions, range reviews and supplier negotiations.
• Experience managing and developing team members to reach their full potential.
• Resilience, adaptability and the courage to challenge, innovate and make decisions.
• A collaborative approach and a passion for contributing to a positive team culture.

You’ll Be Rewarded With

• Competitive starting salary and great career prospects in a fast paced and growing business
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Company‑funded private health insurance and access to Smart Health
• Life assurance
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 50% staff discount
• Summer hours- 3pm finishes every Friday throughout June, July & August
• Bespoke induction support and ongoing development to help you thrive in your new role
• A welcoming and inspiring work‑environment - take advantage of Yoga classes, social activities, an early finish on pay day and more