Senior Buyer

wearegrip; Shoreditch; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual leave

Birthday day off

Hybrid work

MacBook provided

Skills training budget

Job summary

wearegrip, a London-based creative studio, is seeking a commercially minded Senior Buyer to own the buying and merchandising function—from sourcing to unit planning and stock performance. You will shape ranges, secure the right suppliers on favorable terms, and ensure smooth stock flow to hit revenue targets.

Based in the UK, you will collaborate with Design, Fulfilment and Retail teams in a fast-paced environment, with clear scope to grow into a more senior retail leadership role as the

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in buying, merchandising or similar retail role.
• Strong negotiation and supplier terms experience.
• Confident reading sales and stock data to drive decisions.
• Experience building buy plans and unit forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Own product margin and stock efficiency as the key driver of store profitability.
• Translate business strategy into product and category plans that push the business forward.
• Own the product critical path from sourcing to delivery, coordinating with fulfilment to hit key trading dates across the online store and global pop-up calendar.
• Develop and drive product assortments to create maximum revenue.
• Build and own the buy plan - deciding unit quantities and size/colour splits by option to balance sales opportunity against markdown risk.
• Manage the open-to-buy, phasing intake against sales forecasts and working with finance on budget.
• Work closely with the design team to shape the product offering.
• Lead the annual category planning process, and contribute to the wider trade calendar.
• Onboard new suppliers to improve product margin, quality and delivery reliability.
• Source, select and negotiate with suppliers to secure the best product, process and contract terms.
• Build and maintain a long-term supplier strategy covering annual deals, payment terms and target margins.
• Produce and maintain regular sales and stock reporting to inform in-season decisions.
• Monitor sales performance and stock levels, proactively managing product on order and replenishment to optimise inventory turnover.
• Set and review pricing and markdown strategy in response to trading performance.
• Spot product and category opportunities through regular competitor and market analysis.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, design, brand, ecommerce and finance to accelerate growth.
• Manage and develop the Buying Assistant, building strong foundations as the team grows.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Data analysis

Excel

Mentoring juniors

Commercial acumen

Job description

We're looking for a commercially minded, detail-driven Senior Buyer to take full ownership of our buying and merchandising function - from supplier sourcing to unit planning and stock performance.

This role sits at the heart of how we bring product to market - shaping ranges, securing the right suppliers on the right terms, and keeping stock flowing efficiently to hit revenue targets. You'll work closely wih our Design, Fulfilment and Retail teams in a fast-paced environment, with clear scope to grow into a more senior retail leadership role as the business scales.

We're looking for a commercially minded, detail-driven Senior Buyer to take full ownership of our buying and merchandising function - from supplier sourcing to unit planning and stock performance.

This role sits at the heart of how we bring product to market - shaping ranges, securing the right suppliers on the right terms, and keeping stock flowing efficiently to hit revenue targets. You'll work closely wih our Design, Fulfilment and Retail teams in a fast-paced environment, with clear scope to grow into a more senior retail leadership role as the business scales.

About Us

We are wearegrip, a London-based creative studio who work with some of the most exciting drivers in F1. Our goal is to build the most distinctive personal brands in sport that capture the attention of fans, teams, and brands around the world.

Working hand-in-hand with each driver, we create and manage their personal brand across social media, branding, marketing, merchandise, content creation, digital, and more. When you join wearegrip, you'll be working at the heart of our multi-skilled, fast-paced start-up and immediately have the opportunity to begin shaping your future within our highly motivated and passionate team.

Your Responsibilities (but not limited to)

• Own product margin and stock efficiency as the key driver of store profitability.
• Understand the wider business strategy and translate it into product and category plans that push the business forward.
• Own the product critical path from sourcing through to delivery, working closely with fulfilment to hit key trading dates across the online store and global pop-up calendar.
• Develop and drive product assortments to create maximum revenue.
• Build and own the buy plan - deciding unit quantities and size/colour splits by option to balance sales opportunity against markdown risk.
• Manage the open-to-buy, phasing intake against sales forecasts and working with finance on budget.
• Work closely with the design team to shape the product offering.
• Lead the annual category planning process, and contribute to the wider trade calendar.
• Onboard new suppliers to improve product margin, quality and delivery reliability.
• Source, select and negotiate with suppliers to secure the best product, process and contract terms.
• Build and maintain a long-term supplier strategy covering annual deals, payment terms and target margins.
• Produce and maintain regular sales and stock reporting (weekly trade reports, best/worst sellers, sell-through by option) to inform in-season decisions.
• Monitor sales performance and stock levels, proactively managing product on order and replenishment to optimise inventory turnover, reduce stockouts and cut excess stock.
• Set and review pricing and markdown strategy in response to trading performance.
• Spot product and category opportunities through regular competitor and market analysis.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, design, brand, ecommerce and finance to accelerate growth.
• Manage and develop the Buying Assistant, building strong foundations as the team grows.

About You

• 5 years+ experience in buying, merchandising or a similar retail/product role.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of securing favourable supplier terms.
• Confident reading sales and stock data to make fast, commercially sound decisions.
• Experience in merchandising or planning - comfortable building buy plans and unit forecasts, not just sourcing.
• Strong Excel/data skills for building and maintaining trade reports.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior team members.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment with shifting priorities.
• Proactive, reliable and enthusiastic about growing your skillset in a dynamic studio environment.
• Based in the UK and able to commute to our Hoxton studio regularly.
• A passion for sport, culture or brand - and it's always a bonus if you're a Formula 1 fan.

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• 20 days of annual leave plus a minimum of 5 days leave over Christmas and New Year
• 1 extra fully paid day off for your birthday
• Up to 2 days working from home per week
• Additional work from home days available on request
• Apple Macbook (or preferred) plus any relevant software and equipment
• Budget for personal skills training and development