Junior Buyer – Non Apparel

Responsibilities

• Assisting in seasonal range plan development - analysing customer buying patterns, forecasting sales and predicting future trends, presenting findings in reports and presentations in a clear and logical format, this will include ratio calculations for size and colour;
• Buying for three key territories which include the UK, EU, North America, NZ and AUS.
• Work with your Head of buying to maximize profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices.
• Assisting in regularly reviewing stock, sales and orders and react with necessary urgency to ensure sales, stock & profit targets are achieved;
• Maintaining relationships with suppliers.
• Liaising with other departments within the organization to ensure projects are completed;
• Participating in promotional activities, helping the buying and merchandising team to identify slow moving stock, suggesting marks downs or promotions, as well as coordinating promotions and clearance events in store;
• Creating style books for products, identify when to update trim labels, fabrications and packaging, and liaise with graphic designer to ensure a consistent brand image;
• Managing the critical path, monitoring all orders from initial product development through to delivery, ensuring the smooth running of the development process, maintaining delivery schedules and key deadlines throughout;
• Train and mentor the AB and BAA in the team and step in to manage the team in absence of Buyer/Line Manager to meet business requirements and deadlines;
• Managing sample process ensuring all designs and fabrications are executed correctly, meeting brand requirements;
• Working alongside QC when creating style books so that correct specs and CAD’s are received,
• Lab dip and trim approvals and feeding back to suppliers, after collecting fit and quality info from QC.
• Approving PTS, for shipments.
• Attend fit meetings with QC and models, making suggestions on fit, styling, trims etc.., as well as signing off sample
• Opportunity to travel both nationally and internationally for store, supplier visits and trade shows.

Requirements

• You will have relevant experience at Senior Assistant Buyer or Junior Buyer level within a retail chain or equivalent looking for a step up.
• Apparel buying experience is very beneficial.
• Experience of fully managing the critical path for your department
• Commercial approach to business critical decisions
• Be aware of competitors and help to try and keep MW the best value on the high street
• Confident approach to offer suggestions on the type and quantity of product for the department given the budgeted OTB
• Good interpersonal skills – able to build and manage relationships with colleagues and suppliers, communication is key at all times
• Strong IT skills most importantly in Excel or equivalent
• Commercial and keeps up to date and aware of market trends, changes in demand
• Able to fully understand customer needs and demands (e.g. price, quality, availability)
• Strong time management skills and able to prioritize as this is a never-ending job and there will always be more to be done

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in apparel buying, critical path management, and sales forecasting while maintaining strong supplier relationships and effective communication across departments. Capable of analyzing market trends and customer needs to optimize product offerings and achieve profit targets.

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