Urban Outfitters Senior Buyer- Bags & Accessories (12 month FTC)

Urban Outfitters, Inc.; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job description

About Us

Urban Outfitters started out as a single boutique in 1970s Philadelphia with creativity and uniqueness at its core. 50 years on, and over 60 stores across Europe later, we’ve become a destination for emerging design, unexpected styling, One-Of-A-Kind vintage and homeware that makes you want to hit the share button.

We speak to a social community of over 10 million forward-thinking individuals, bringing together a nostalgia for the past with an enthusiasm to shape the future. The UO community are culturally aware, they shape the music scene, they live a digitally native life and they wear style trends before anyone else. At our core, we empower our customers and staff to express themselves, unapologetically, living life in a way that's truly authentic to them.

We are always excited to bring new talent into the room, especially if you share our values:

• Progressive — we move with the mood
• Creative — we champion limitless minds
• Inclusive — we open our platforms to all communities
• Responsible — we work to reduce our impact on the environment
• Compassionate — we care for each other beyond the 9 to 5

Sound like you? Why not join us?

Role Summary

As a Senior Buyer for Bags & Accessories (not including shoes) at Urban Outfitters, you’ll play a key role in shaping the brand’s collection and keeping it fresh, on-trend, and aligned with what our customers love. You’ll be responsible for choosing the right products, managing inventory, and making sure we’re offering a mix of bags and accessories that sell well and reflect the Urban Outfitters aesthetic. You'll use your market knowledge, data insights, and vendor relationships to stay ahead of the curve and keep the collection exciting.

What You'll Be Doing

• Demonstrate a fresh perspective to deliver a market leading womenswear offer both online and across retail territories.
• Create balanced ranges both emerging and relevant to the urban customer focusing on quality, value, and key volume.
• Collaborate across functions to ensure complete delivery of concept to customer.
• Work closely with global partners to leverage all opportunities.
• Strong ability to trade and deliver in-season, as well as longer lead strategic initiatives.
• Maintain excellent supplier relationships, identify gaps in sourcing and develop new relationships to support.
• Drive individual, departmental, and total business goals through seasonal initiatives.
• Present strategy, ideas and concepts to senior management.
• Provide leadership to employees and to peers and foster an open environment of continual training and development.
• Work together with Planners/Merchandisers to develop effective line plans.
• Manage the Open to Buy (OTB) plan, knowing when to change the OTB based on business needs.
• Analyse the business and react with timely reorders and cancellations.
• Maximise margin opportunities and reduce markdown.
• Understand seasonality and manage critical path accordingly.
• Liaise with PR, Marketing, Web, Visual Merchandising and Retail Operations teams to ensure that sales are maximized, and the department reaches its full potential.
• Lead and deliver departmental sustainability goals.
• Represent the brand with integrity and authority, being a true brand ambassador for the business.

What You'll Need

• Entrepreneurial in spirit, with a strong understanding of the Urban Outfitters brand and customer.
• Knitwear buying/product development experience and a strong market awareness exhibited through knowledge of relevant brands and reference points.
• The ability to identify emerging trends early on and interpret them in a commercial yet exciting way.
• Clear communicator with the ability to present and support a point of view.
• A team player with the ability to provide leadership, training and motivation to employees and peers.

The Perks

• Work-life balance:
  • Flexible start and finish times
  • Bring your dog to work
• Wellbeing:
  • Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health
  • Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount off external gym memberships
  • Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Discount:
  • Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands
• Community:
  • One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
• Travel:
  • Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
• Continued Development:
  • We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

Equal Opportunity Statement

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.