Junior Buyer- Toys & Gaming

N BROWN; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Junior Buyer, where you'll play a pivotal role in developing customer-centric product ranges. This position offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with various teams, manage supplier relationships, and analyze market trends. With a commitment to inclusivity and innovation, you’ll thrive in a dynamic environment that encourages creativity and personal growth. Enjoy a hybrid working model, competitive benefits, and the chance to make a significant impact on the business and customers' lives. If you're driven and passionate about homeware, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

24 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Annual bonus scheme

Enhanced maternity and adoption leave

Company pension with up to 8% contribution

Mental health support

Financial wellbeing support

Colleague discount across all brands

Onsite café with subsidized rates

Life assurance

Paid volunteer days for charity work

Qualifications

• Demonstrable skills through work experience in buying or related roles.
• Strong administrative, communication, and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop customer-focused product ranges with pricing and quality standards.
• Negotiate cost prices and manage relationships with suppliers.
• Monitor market trends and sales performance for product improvement.

Skills

Administrative Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Negotiation Skills

Customer Focus

Education

Relevant Degree

Job description

Here at N Brown, we champion inclusivity by making our customers look and feel amazing. We don't believe that age, size, shape or background should stop anyone from feeling confident, stylish and happy with the way they look and feel. With our industry-leading expertise in creating fashion that fits, we've been proudly breaking down these barriers for over 150 years. We help our customers express themselves with stylish products, helpful services, and flexible finance.

Now, we're moving forward together, embracing innovation and new technology to continue delighting our customers. You will be part of our home team, which has a strong strategy to grow the home category, and is passionate about offering home products to our customers.

Working here, you'll explore everything the world of digital retail has to offer—asking questions, trying new things, and chasing new opportunities. Combine this curiosity with the freedom to make your own decisions, take charge of projects, and work flexibly, and you'll find a great environment to showcase and develop your skills. It can be fast and furious at times, but this means something new and exciting is always on the way.

If you collaborate well, think on your feet, embrace innovation, and love rising to a challenge, your work with us will have a significant impact on the business, your career, and our customers' lives. We are proud to be N Brown.

The Junior Buyer Role

This role reports to a Buyer or Category Manager, working together to deliver the best ranges for our customers, as well as collaborating within teams such as Sourcing, Product Innovation, and Merchandising.

The position involves a greater degree of buying responsibility and serves as a stepping stone towards becoming a Buyer or Category Manager. The goal is to deliver a profitable, customer-centric range and provide daily support to a Buyer or Category Manager.

Responsibilities of a Junior Buyer

1. Work with the Buyer or Category Manager to develop a customer-focused range with appropriate pricing and quality standards.
2. Build and maintain relationships with overseas factories and UK-based brands.
3. Manage critical path activities from initial briefing and sampling to product launch.
4. Negotiate cost prices and supplier funding to meet margin targets.
5. Plan ranges and develop products for assigned categories.
6. Participate in departmental strategy and sign-off meetings.
7. Review weekly and seasonal sales performance, focusing on best and worst sellers, and implement actions to improve performance.
8. Monitor market trends and customer activity through competitive analysis and sales data.
9. Coordinate the delivery of newness stories across multiple platforms for current and future seasons.
10. Attend weekly and monthly trade meetings.
11. Perform regular website checks for product setup issues and resolve them as needed.
12. Develop and motivate Assistant Buyers and Associate Buyers under the guidance of the Buyer or Category Manager.

Requirements for Success

1. Relevant degree and demonstrable skills through work experience.
2. Excellent administrative, communication, and organizational skills.
3. A keen interest in homeware and a customer-first approach.
4. Driven, motivated, and action-oriented.
5. Previous experience in buying or related roles is essential.

Benefits

• 24 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays, with options to buy additional days.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave.
• Company pension with up to 8% contribution.
• Mental health support and wellbeing programs.
• Financial wellbeing support.
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands.
• Onsite café with subsidized rates and local restaurant discounts.
• Life assurance and private medical insurance.
• Paid volunteer days for charity work.

Working Arrangements

• Hybrid working model, depending on role, with our Head Office located in Manchester City Centre.
• Full-time hours are 36.17 per week over five days, with flexibility around start and finish times.
• Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, valuing all forms of diversity and providing equal opportunity.

Application Process

After submitting your application, you'll receive an acknowledgment email. We aim to respond promptly and appreciate your interest in joining us. Good luck! Please note, for roles involving access to customer data, a satisfactory criminal record check is required, which does not necessarily disqualify applicants with criminal records.