Junior Buyer - Menswear

Crew Clothing Company; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading British clothing brand in Kingston upon Thames is seeking a Junior Buyer for Menswear to support the Head of Buying. This role involves managing product quality, developing strong supplier relationships, and ensuring timely delivery of goods. The ideal candidate has experience in Menswear, strong negotiation skills, and excellent communication abilities. Join a passionate team dedicated to providing exceptional service.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role within Menswear.
• Ability to build strong relationships with suppliers.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support Head of Buying in product range commercialization.
• Manage product quality within sourcing routes.
• Develop strong relationships with supply partners.

Skills

Menswear experience

Strong relationship building

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Excel proficiency

Teamwork

Ability to work independently

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Word

Job description

Junior Buyer - Menswear
Full-Time
Kingston-Upon-Thames

Crew Clothing Company was founded inSalcombe in 1993. Today Crew is a great British brand, and our successlies in our authentic passion for producing great looking, well madeclothes. We now have more than 70 stores and a thriving website, and thebusiness continues to grow.
Our people are at the heart of ourcompany. With a passion for exceptional service, and a love for ourproduct, our team is dedicated to offering the best customer experience –nothing is too much trouble.

Purpose of the role:

Supports the Head of Buying in thecommercialisation of agreed Crew Menswear product range to drive profitablesales growth. This role manages theprocess to ensure that the collections, once designed are appropriately pricedand that they are effectively produced to the quality expectations of the Crewcustomer and inline with agreed sourcing routes.
A sound awareness of the Menswear marketplace and sales performance will ensure balanced and relevant rangedevelopment.

Product development

• Deliver agreed product range from proto stage to productdelivered in store.
• Identify new product opportunities and present these to Head ofBuying & B&M Director
• Delivery range that meets all established targets (intake margin,cost price, profitable, commercial and on-brand)
• 95% on time delivery through all channels.
• Exceptional range building skills and understanding of Crewvision to deliver against that.
• Management of Admin Assistant as necessary within teamstructure.
• Delivery of profitability & maximising sales through tradingif identified.
• Be involved with understanding therange frameworks to include options, price points, and best selling linesidentified from previous seasons to enable a well-balanced range.
• Liaise with design and technical on aweekly basis to manage design, sampling and production Critical Path to achieveon time delivery and minimum 95% launch availability
• Monitor product during all stages ofdevelopment and manufacturing to ensure that they meet brand requirements and are to specification
• Attend fit meetings where appropriatewith design and garment tech teams to ensure continuity of fit and execution ofnew blocks

Supplier relationships

• Develop strong working relationships with allsupply partners - liaise on allstages of product development, negotiation and production stages andcommunicate regularly and consistently.
• Negotiate prices, execute and deliver product ranges,which exceed budgeted intake margin for all channel ranges and exceedcustomer expectations, in line with Head of Buying expectations.
• Manage production process from SMS confirmationto delivery into warehouse and communicate progress effectively.
• Manage OTB process to ensure in season tradingopportunities are identified and delivered

Team working

• Work collaboratively and communicate effectivelyat all times within team and wider business.
• Attend weekly departmental team and trademeetings to ensure team is well informed and prepared and tradingopportunities identified
• Work closely with the Merchandisers to ensurethe signed off range reflects the agreed options and product/colourmix. Revisit in line with inseasonal performance
• By way of Monthly store visits, marketing andanalysis of key competitors – gain better understanding of both Crewsposition in the market place, target customer and identify opportunitiesto change / improve

Online & Channels

• Manage salesman sample process from initialdesign prototype through to final stage
• Ensure all SMS samples are available to Channelswithin given timelines, and are executed to meet requirements
• Manage category sample invoices for each seasonto reduce the development costs involved
• Ensureall Direct and Marketing requirements are met on time to ensureCrew catalogue and website launchdates are achieved
• Ensure all correct samples are handed over tophoto shoot and PR, and communicate any subsequent changes

Key Skills & Experience:

Essential –

• Experience in same or similar role within Menswear.
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationshipswith Supplier and strong sourcing skills with Bangladesh/China.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Excellent computer literacy in Excel /Outlook/Word
• Ability to prioritise and manage a work schedulewhilst working to tight deadlines
• Team work but motivated and able to workindependently.
• Understanding of the Buying function and critical Pathprocesses and skilled in management of.
• Able to work with pace and energy.
• Energetic and dynamic.

Desirable –

• Desire to learn Understanding of garment constructionand production processes.
• Passion for product and keen to learn.
• Positive and solutions orientated.
• Keen to progress within role and Crew business.

Senior Buying Admin Assistant - Off-Price