Junior Buyer - Wholesale

BODEN; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Stylish, grounded, uplifting - these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn't be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that's ethical, inclusive - and importantly - good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.

Overview

The Junior Buyer - Wholesale, is responsible for managing their own partners and selection process, reporting into the Head of Partnerships. The role includes managing an Admin Assistant, selling and selecting the range in line with concept, meeting margin and sales targets and managing a number of partners. You will contribute and help drive the wholesale channel strategy to deliver amazing product to our partners and end customer. This position requires strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to collaborate cross functionally to ensure success.

Location: 4-5 days per week based at our North Acton Office.

What You Will Do

Commercial Awareness

• Understand the brand and customer in all our trading regions. Be customer focused in ways of working and decisions made. Be aware of economic and social trends that impact our business.

Selection and Selling

• Drive and influence our wholesale partners to purchase in line with our capsule collections to show the best foot forward instore and online with partners. Ensuring we are working to our target margins and contribution for the partner.
• Leverage market and partner knowledge and analytics to help manage business growth and marketing strategies.

Trade

• Quick to respond to current trade and constantly evaluating upcoming ranges; looking for opportunities to trade. Working with partners to offer relevant ATS stock in conjunction with our merchandising partners.
• Build in ability to trade with wholesale partners and establish trigger dates for trade.
• Chase and mitigate risk where required.
• Collaborate closely with direct buying and marketing teams to prioritise key products and seasonal trend opportunities.
• Pre-empt difficulties you may encounter and find solutions.

Wholesale Partner Base

• Continually assess Partner base, building strong relationships to deliver best price, repeat orders, clear view on strategy and working to our critical path.
• Recognise opportunities and risks that form part of the Wholesale Strategy.
• Work closely with the Partners to develop and execute joint business plans. Build strong relationships with our wholesale partners, being the key point of contact for the partners and our internal cross functional teams.
• Represent our commercial partners as we develop our sales and process tools and ways of working.

Negotiation

• Negotiate and grow your skills to meet each seasons target revenue and margin.

Wholesale Critical Path

• Manage the seasonal wholesale calendar, ensuring all key deadlines are diarised and communicated to internal and external partners. Proactively maintain and update timelines to meet seasonal requirements. Any delays are escalated to management with solutions.

Team Management

• Get the best out of your team by motivating, developing and coaching, keeping brand values at the forefront.
• Carry our regular 121's and performance reviews setting out clear, measurable targets and giving regular feedback.
• Delegate and manage the workload of your team appropriately to ensure accurate and quick response.
• Have strong relationships with the wholesale partners and internal teams to ensure smooth running of the department.

Communication

• Communicate clearly to get quick decisions to avoid delays, be able to recognise when you can make the decision and what needs to be escalated.
• Speak up when something is going wrong to prevent bigger issues.

Systems

• Ensure S&S sheets, PLM, NuOrder and other partners systems are up to date and accurate at all times.

Showroom

• Own the set up and management of the wholesale partnership selling process, including but not limited to showroom and sample set up, digital selling management and set up facilitating best practice and ways of working across internal and external partners.

What We Are Looking For

• Wholesale experience in the retail industry (fashion preferred)
• This role would suit an existing Wholesale Junior Buyer, experience of working in Womenswear Clothing with a strong understanding of the product and market is critical.
• Experience generating and fulfilling sales.
• Effective at building strong working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Customer focused, commercial awareness with exceptional taste is critical. Be both commercial and creative with a keen eye for detail.
• Prior management of a Buying Admin Assistant.
• Proficient in Excel and highly numerate.
• Experience working with NuOrder a plus.
• Be organised, adaptable, strategic and enjoys a challenge.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Clear communication and problem-solving skills.
• Great time management.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work independently and also with stakeholders.