Buyer - Sportswear

Crew Clothing Head Office; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent clothing brand in Kingston upon Thames is seeking an experienced Buyer for Sportswear to lead buying and production processes. You will manage timelines, collaborate with design, and negotiate supplier relationships to deliver top-quality products. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in Sportswear buying and be driven to improve margins. Join a supportive company culture with growth opportunities.

Benefits

Staff Discount

Uniform allowance

Pension scheme

Refer a Friend scheme

Training and career development

Supportive and rewarding culture

Qualifications

• Wealth of Sportswear and Activewear experience.
• Clear track record of delivering margin improvement.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and negotiate prices.

Responsibilities

• Manage buying and production of Sportswear & Activewear department.
• Ensure timely development and delivery of collections.
• Collaborate with Design and Merchandising teams.

Skills

Experience in Sportswear and Activewear Buying

Supplier negotiation

Technical expertise in garment fabrication

Market knowledge of clothing

Strong commercial judgement

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Buyer - Sportswear, Kingston upon Thames

col-narrow-left

Client:

Crew Clothing Head Office

Location:

Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Reference:

ff9eb2e51c06

Job Views:

6

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

Buyer - Sportswear
Full Time
Kingston

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.

Purpose
of the role:

As a
buyeryou will haveresponsibility for the buying and production of
the Sportswear & Activewear department, working in partnership with Design, Merchandising and Technical. This role
manages the process to ensure that the collections, once designed are
appropriately developed, costed, and commercially assorted to deliver the best
collection to Stores, E commerce and Wholesale partners in a timely manner.

Reports into:
Head of Buying

Responsibilities
Accountable
for:

• 95% on time delivery through all
  channels.
• Direct management of Sport buying, while reporting into Head of Buying
• Delivery of profitability of the
  assortment, adhering to intake margin targets set by Head of Buying
• Ability and confidence to work
  directly with HOB and Designer on new season development
• Maintaining and improving the product
  to ensure that it reaches the brand essence of Crew Clothing.
• Delivery of balanced assortment to
  different grading of stores / marketplaces / E comm and wholesale partners
• Delivery of Range sign offs to Heads
  of and Directors

Product

• Work closely with design team to
  ensure product is signed off and agreed.
• Work in partnership with
  merchandising in developing correct range mix & price architecture, given
  history, competitor analysis & new sales insight.
• Monitor and support Design’s product
  development through to Final Design sign off and SMS review
• Work with Head of Buying to set the
  Supplier Strategy, evaluate key suppliers, strengths and weaknesses and evolve
  /rationalise accordingly within business parameters.
• In collaboration with Head of Buying,
  identify key suppliers for both volume and quick response business to increase
  margin, and ensure OTB demands / repeats can be delivered on time in season,
  when necessary.
• Manage and negotiate prices with all
  suppliers on set areas, ensuring seasonal strategy is met. Prepare documents
  for sign off with head of Buying and Business owner
• Proactively problem solve any margin
  issues with key partners.
• Work with the technical team to
  ensure that all products developed and produced meet the brand essence and
  ensure with the support of the technical team that core fits are maintained.
• Understand the Crew customer and
  their aspirations, monthly visiting of stores with cross functional partners
  and ensure competitor knowledge is always up to date.
• Manage the VRP throughout the
  process, ensuring accurate and up to date information.
• Ensuring any required changes to
  product are presented to Directors with clear information of issues and actions
  proposed
• Ensure signed off samples are lodged
  and stored clearly in the product library for reference, and available for
  relevant meeting.
• Approve print and product lab dips
  with Design, in line with the Crew brand essence.
• Approve bulk fabric and trim
  submissions, in line with business CP

Product
Critical Path Management

• Ensure suppliers are aware of the
  timeline at the start of the season.
• Manage team updates on Product
  critical path – ensuring POs are correct on the system and reflect latest
  intake
• Trade the dept – understand trade, so
  you can react in season and cut/infill where you’ve had success and failure
• Ensure that all marketing &
  Ecommerce collateral is correct and up to date in accordance to business CP.
• Ensure 100% on time delivery of
  accurate salesman, product & shoot samples.
• Support team in weekly critical path
  reviews and offer guidance to junior members if the team.

People
Management

• Lead by example and communicate with
  clarity and consistency.
• Ensure team is fully functioning and
  that cross functional relationships are maintained.
• Train and develop individual team
  members to improve their individual capabilities and deliver functional
  expertise.
  

Key
Skills and Experience

• Experience in Sportswear and Activewear Buying with clear track
  record of delivering margin improvement
• Extensive experience of initiating
  and developing direct sourcing relationships in product.
• Knowledge if supplier negotiation and
  have a proven track record of travelling alone to various sources across the
  globe.
• Technical expertise in garment
  fabrication, construction and production
• Market knowledge of clothing
  including competitor price architecture.
• Strong commercial judgement
• Self-motivated individual, capable of
  driving change at pace
• Good understanding of supply base and
  respectful way of working.
• Passion for product.
  

What we can offer you:

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

Applicants must have a wealth of Sportswear and Activewear experience.