Buyer

Job Overview

Reporting to the Head of Product, this role has a remit which spans the entire Home Accessories category, with specific buying responsibility for Candles, Candle Accessories, Frames, Storage & Artificial Flowers/Plants. You will have previous experience of working within a relevant area of Home Buying, with a proven track record of product development, supplier management and direct Far East sourcing.

You will work alongside the Head of Product in the development of the product range with global suppliers to source both branded and own branded Home products for our nationwide customers in alignment with our product development strategy and seasonal design orientations.

Working collaboratively across our interdependent departments, from our in-house design and photography studio to our stock planning and QC teams, you will manage the department critical path and on time delivery of our product development plan.

Knowledge of our systems and administrative requirements is key, whereby data and product information is completed accurately and in a timely manner, supported by a Buying Assistant whose remit spans both Home Accessories and Home Textiles. You will manage samples and requests from key stakeholders with a can-do attitude.

Key responsibilities - Product Development

New trends & Market / Competitor Analysis

• Observe and present trends and opportunities to grow your category
• Complete regular market competitor shops trips/research to support the department strategy and direction

Product development & Briefing

• Contribute to the creative direction of our product development strategy, demonstrating your knowledge of relevant brands, sites, social pages etc which could provide inspiration to the range build
• Liaise with interdependent departments, from the design studio to QC team, to ensure that our product offering meets all the needs of the business
• Work alongside the Head of Product and your buying colleagues to ensure cross category range coherence and that we present ourselves to the wider business as one team
• Develop products from brief to gold seal, liaising with suppliers and our international sourcing teams to land products at the right price & margin, in line with our critical path

Product Range building

• Understanding of what has/hasn't worked for dept in terms of reactions in trade data and suggesting options based on this knowledge.
• Complete range packs and buy plans to ensure these are up to date with accurate data input
• Updating Range Plans and supporting documentation
• Creating and updating all relevant product data to ensure that your product development is effectively and efficiently brought into the business, and that it can be successfully ordered and on-boarded to both the catalogue and website, including all relevant marketing information

Key responsibilities - Administration and Communication

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Maintaining good relationships with relevant teams and global supply base
• Working collaboratively, you support with gathering product information for stakeholder requests

Organisation

• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage processes, time management and prioritisation skills

General Admin

• Assisting in general team administration: managing weekly/monthly team meetings in the calendar
• Accurate and timely SKU set up for relevant departments
• Updating and filing all product data requirement
• Sample management- Chasing in all samples to meet deadlines, arranging photoshoots with Studio team.
• Excel and PowerPoint skills are essential to provide presentation decks
• Complete all product information in the NAV system and download reports
• Proactively answer emails

Critical Path management

• Good understanding of critical path and able to chase suppliers / team members to meet deadlines
• Catch ups with Merchandisers and Far East teams to ensure any delays are flagged and resolved

Reporting

• Able to locate and read key information in sales reporting, to inform both the development plan but also to update and inform other areas of the business

Online/ Customer Journey

• Site walks - Check regularly online for any mistakes to products and resolve where possible or escalate to relevant team, ensuring problems are corrected.

Teamwork

• The ability to work within a team environment, where all decisions are collaborative
• Communicating progress and any issues with meeting deadlines
• Supportive of those around you, with a positive, can-do attitude and a hands on approach

Personal Development

• Desire to learn and develop self
• Proactive in seeking feedback
• Honest and open

Experience & Skills Required

• Experienced Junior Buyer looking for the next step or current Buyer
• In depth knowledge of the Homewares market, with a passion for product
• Strong product development capability, with a design qualification advantageous
• A strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and an analytical approach
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work proactively and independently
• Strong excel and presentation skills
• Team player, collaborative and self-motivated
• Organized and able to prioritise workload