Junior Buyer

Joma Jewellery And Katie Loxton; Harwell; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Holiday entitlement

Job summary

Joma Jewellery And Katie Loxton is seeking a junior buyer to shape collections across our fashion and lifestyle brands in Banbury. You will work closely with the Buying Manager, Design and Merchandising to deliver customer-focused ranges that reflect brand identities and trends, driving commercial success for B2B and B2C channels.

The role involves identifying opportunities, supporting range planning, managing supplier relationships and guiding product development from concept to final approval.

Qualifications

• Experience in fashion/jewellery/lifestyle retail buying is desirable.
• Strong understanding of customer preferences and trends.

Responsibilities

• Support Buying Manager in developing seasonal product ranges.
• Identify new product opportunities through trend forecasting and market insights.
• Collaborate with Design and Merchandising to develop briefs and range plans.
• Manage supplier relationships and negotiate costs to meet targets.
• Present product updates and commercial insights to stakeholders.

Skills

Trend forecasting

Supplier negotiations

Buying knowledge

Commercial mindset

Team collaboration

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

We're looking for a creative, commercially minded and trend-driven Junior Buyer to join our talented Buying team, helping to shape exciting new collections across our growing global fashion and lifestyle brands.

Working closely with our Buying Manager, Design, Merchandising and wider teams, you'll play a key role in developing innovative, customer-focused product ranges that reflect our brand identities, respond to emerging trends and deliver commercial success across our B2B and B2C channels.

You will make an impact by identifying new product opportunities, supporting seasonal range planning, managing supplier relationships and overseeing product development from initial concept through to final approval. You'll combine your passion for products and trends with strong commercial awareness, using sales insights, competitor research and supplier negotiations to help deliver inspiring collections at the right price, quality and time.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Assistant Buyer ready to take the next step, or an existing Junior Buyer looking to develop their career within a fast-paced, creative and growing global business.

The role is Monday - Friday 9am-5pm. You'll enjoy the exciting buzz of our friendly office in Banbury, Oxfordshire three times a week on average with the flexibility to work from home for the remaining two days. This may increase to 5 days a week during peak periods.

BEHIND THE BRANDS

We’re a family-run, entrepreneurial company with an exciting pace of life and a bright and friendly team. We are passionate about creating stunning products with a personal touch and innovating our business behind the scenes. We value creativity, collaboration and integrity.

HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE

• Supporting the Buying Manager in developing and delivering seasonal product ranges that align with brand identity, customer needs and commercial objectives.
• Identifying new product opportunities through trend forecasting, competitor research and market insights, bringing fresh and creative ideas to our collections.
• Working closely with Design and Merchandising to develop product briefs, build balanced ranges and manage option plans in line with budgets and product strategy.
• Managing assigned product categories throughout the development process, ensuring samples, approvals and product launches remain on track against critical path deadlines.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating product costs within agreed parameters to achieve quality, pricing and margin targets.
• Using sales performance, customer insights and market trends to support buying decisions, pricing recommendations and future range development.
• Coordinating product sampling, quality control and compliance processes, ensuring products meet our standards and any concerns are escalated appropriately.
• Maintaining accurate buying documentation, including option plans, pricing calculations, product specifications and handover information.
• Working collaboratively with PR, Marketing, Creative, Web, Visual Merchandising and Retail Operations to ensure successful product launches across all channels.
• Monitoring supplier performance and identifying opportunities to improve product quality, cost efficiencies and ways of working.
• Presenting product updates, range proposals and commercial insights to key stakeholders across the business.
• Supporting, coaching and developing junior members of the Buying team, promoting a positive and collaborative working environment.
• Identifying opportunities to improve buying processes and supporting additional projects that contribute to the continued growth of our brands.

THE TALENT YOU'LL BRING

• Previous experience at experienced/senior Assistant Buyer or Junior Buyer level, ideally within a fashion, jewellery, accessories or lifestyle retail environment.
• A genuine passion for products, fashion and emerging trends, with a creative eye and strong understanding of customer preferences.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to interpret sales data, understand pricing structures and make informed buying recommendations.
• A solid understanding of buying cycles, product development processes and critical path management.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple product ranges, priorities and deadlines.
• Confident communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Exceptional attention to detail, particularly when managing product specifications, pricing and buying documentation.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, with confidence working with data and commercial reports.
• Experience managing suppliers, negotiating costs and supporting product quality processes would be advantageous.
• Confidence presenting product ideas, commercial insights and recommendations to stakeholders.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with the confidence to take ownership and drive results.
• Previous experience supporting or mentoring junior team members would be desirable.
• A positive can-do attitude and the ability to thrive in a creative, fast-paced and evolving business.

PERFECTLY PACKAGED

• A competitive salary DOE
• 33 days holiday rising to 35 with length of service inclusive of bank holiday
• A broad benefits package including our staff favourite – a very generous staff discount across both our brands. See all of our benefits on our careers portal
• Opportunities to make an impact as well as learn and develop further
• An innovative and friendly workplace with a team we’re proud to be part of. Find out more about us and our culture on our careers portal

We are an equal opportunities employer. We strive to be the best in our field and we know that happens by hiring a diverse team and encouraging everyone to be their authentic selves when working with us. We don’t hire based on cultures, preferences or personalities – it’s what you bring to the team that counts.