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- Tasks: Manage the buying process for children's books and inspire young readers.
- Company: The Works is a top-rated company focused on creativity, learning, and play.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25% discount, flexible hours, and access to exclusive discounts and training.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team dedicated to inspiring creativity and making a difference in children's lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, a love for children's literature, and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Hybrid 1-2 days a week in Coleshill, Birmingham.
Why The Works?
- 10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies'
- We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.
- The Works means unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone.
Bring stories to life for the next generation. At The Works, we’re passionate about inspiring creativity, learning, and imagination—and children’s books are at the heart of that mission. As our Buyer for Children’s Books, you’ll play a key role in shaping a range that inspires young readers and supports parents, teachers, and gift-givers with thoughtful, engaging choices.
Your Mission
- Manage the end-to-end buying process for the Children’s Books category.
- Identify trends, seasonal opportunities, and emerging authors or formats.
- Negotiate cost prices, terms, and promotional activity with suppliers.
- Collaborate with merchandising, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure smooth delivery and strong in-store/online presence.
- Monitor sales performance and adapt the range to meet customer needs.
- Define category strategy—decide what should be in our range and why, identifying the best sources and driving a competitive edge.
- Test and trial new ideas for future growth based on market data.
- Brief new product development (NPD) opportunities and work with creative teams to deliver unique, competitive products.
- Build compelling product ranges, balancing private label and branded titles, and manage product exits with clear change plans.
- Manage the critical path—review development trackers and flag risks to ensure smooth progress.
- React to sales trends and take action to maximise sales and minimise risk, including promotional activities and seasonal space planning.
- Maintain trackers and provide actionable insights based on analysis.
- Collaborate with suppliers and QA to ensure product specifications and ethical compliance.
- Negotiate trading terms and funding support with suppliers.
- Produce internal communications, presentations, and sign-off packs.
- Coach and develop junior team members, setting the standard for what great buying looks like.
- Influence internal stakeholders and lead your product area through the full buying process.
- Present to Board members and complete all required sign-off documentation.
- Take on additional responsibilities including budget setting, strategic sourcing, store/web reviews, and operational collaboration with your AM buddy.
What You’ll Bring
- Experience in a buying role—ideally in books, publishing, or retail.
- A passion for children’s literature and an understanding of what engages young readers.
- Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
- A proactive, organised, and collaborative approach.
- A customer-first mindset and a love for storytelling.
- Being a great leader.
As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you’ll create an environment that’s more than just co-workers - it’s a team.
- Align Goals with Values: Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose.
- Clear Communication: Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles.
- Role Model: Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team.
- Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback regularly.
- Empower Your Team: Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them.
- Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and fairly.
- Empathy: Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members.
And let’s not forget about the most important part... your team’s well-being and aspirations. You’ll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on.
Our PERKS really are 'The Works'
- 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
- MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
- Holiday - 33 days including bank holidays.
- Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days.
- Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development.
- Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them.
- Share Scheme - Own a piece of The Works!
- 24/7 support for you and your family through our partnership with the Retail Trust.
- Healthcare Cash Plan - To support your everyday healthcare costs.
- And loads more! - Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.
Our Purpose
To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled.
Our Values
- We are Crafty
- We are Caring
- We are Can-do
Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey to hear your feedback and suggestions.
Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments
At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups.
We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!
Buyer - Children\'s Books employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Children\'s Books
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in children's literature. Follow popular blogs, social media accounts, and industry publications to stay updated on what engages young readers. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion and insight during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the publishing and retail sectors. Attend book fairs, literary events, or webinars focused on children's books. Building connections can provide valuable insights and may even lead to referrals for the Buyer position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your negotiation strategies and experiences in previous roles. Think of specific examples where you've successfully negotiated terms or collaborated with teams to achieve a common goal. This will showcase your commercial awareness and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Research The Works' values and mission thoroughly. Be ready to articulate how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding inspiring creativity and learning. This alignment can set you apart as a candidate who truly understands their purpose.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Children\'s Books
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in buying, particularly in children's literature or retail. Use specific examples that demonstrate your commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for children's books and how it aligns with The Works' mission. Mention any specific trends or authors you admire and how you would approach the buying process.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Since the role involves coaching and developing junior team members, include examples of your leadership experience. Highlight how you've empowered teams and resolved conflicts in previous roles.
Demonstrate Customer Focus: Illustrate your customer-first mindset by providing examples of how you've previously engaged with customers or adapted product ranges based on customer feedback. This will show your alignment with The Works' values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Show Your Passion for Children's Literature
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for children's books during the interview. Share your favourite titles and discuss what makes them special. This will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and align with The Works' mission to inspire young readers.
✨Prepare for Trend Discussions
Research current trends in children's literature and be ready to discuss emerging authors or formats. Highlight any insights you have on seasonal opportunities that could benefit The Works, showcasing your commercial awareness and ability to adapt to market changes.
✨Demonstrate Your Negotiation Skills
Be prepared to talk about your previous experiences in negotiating terms with suppliers. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed costs and promotional activities, as this is a key aspect of the Buyer role.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
The Works values collaboration across various teams. Be ready to discuss how you've worked with merchandising, marketing, and supply chain teams in the past. Highlight your proactive approach and how you can contribute to a positive team environment.
