At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying function for seasonal horticultural ranges and negotiate with suppliers.
- Company: Established family-owned horticultural business with ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: 25 days holiday, pension, life assurance, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape product ranges and develop supplier relationships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a growing company while working with plants and bulbs.
- Qualifications: Five years of buying experience in horticulture and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester preferred; Lincolnshire also considered
Working pattern: Hybrid working available
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
Benefits: 25 days holiday, pension and life assurance
Are you an experienced Horticultural Buyer with strong knowledge of plants, bulbs and the European supplier market? We are recruiting for an established, family-owned horticultural business with ambitious plans for significant growth over the next five to ten years. This is an influential buying role with responsibility for an extensive seasonal range of bulbs, live plants and growing-on plants across retail, ecommerce, catalogue and wholesale channels.
Reporting to the Head of Commercial and supported by an Assistant Buyer, you will take ownership of the day-to-day buying function. You will combine genuine horticultural knowledge with strong commercial judgement, helping to develop ranges, improve supplier terms and maximise sales and margin while managing availability, waste and terminal stock.
The role
You will be responsible for developing commercially successful, seasonally relevant horticultural ranges, ensuring the right products are sourced at the right quality, cost, volume and time. Working with a focused supplier base across the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and wider Europe, you will lead commercial negotiations and use your product knowledge to challenge costs, specifications, volumes and delivery plans effectively.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Developing and managing ranges across bulbs, live plants and growing-on plants.
- Reviewing range structure and SKU productivity to identify opportunities for growth, innovation and rationalisation.
- Negotiating cost prices, commercial terms, volumes, specifications, delivery windows and supplier performance.
- Building productive, long-term relationships with UK and European growers and suppliers.
- Working closely with Merchandising and Supply colleagues to forecast demand, quantify ranges, plan volumes and phase deliveries.
- Owning sales, gross margin, pricing, stock, availability and waste performance across the assigned categories.
- Monitoring competitor ranging, pricing and promotional activity.
- Supporting a strong everyday-value proposition alongside selective value-added offers.
- Taking timely trading and clearance action to improve sell-through and manage terminal stock.
- Working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Production, Marketing, Ecommerce and Wholesale teams.
- Providing day-to-day direction and development to an Assistant Buyer.
- Supporting the continued modernisation of buying processes and commercial decision-making.
About you
You will ideally bring:
- A minimum of five years buying or category-management experience within horticulture, plants, bulbs, nursery stock or a closely related live-product category.
- Strong knowledge of bulbs, plants, seasonality, quality standards and supplier capability.
- Proven experience of supplier sourcing and commercial negotiation.
- Experience of building and trading seasonal ranges with accountability for sales, margin, pricing and stock.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to turn performance data into commercial action.
- A practical, hands-on and collaborative working style.
- The confidence to introduce new ideas while respecting the knowledge and experience already within an established business.
- Experience of sourcing from the Netherlands, Germany or the wider European horticultural market would be particularly valuable. Dutch or German language skills would be beneficial but are not essential.
Travel
The role will involve travel between company locations and UK suppliers, together with approximately three to four European sourcing visits each year, principally to the Netherlands and Germany.
The opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity to make a visible difference within a successful, long-established horticultural business. The company offers a friendly working environment, deep product expertise and genuine commercial headroom. For the right person, there is considerable scope to shape the range, strengthen supplier relationships, develop the buying team and help modernise the commercial approach.
Horticultural Buyer in Manchester employer: All The Top Bananas
My Four Wheels is an exceptional employer, offering a rewarding career as a Trainee Driving Instructor with flexible working hours and the potential to earn up to £50,000+ annually. With comprehensive training provided through our new Training Academy, employees benefit from ongoing support and resources, ensuring a fulfilling journey towards becoming a qualified instructor while enjoying the satisfaction of teaching locally in Westfield, Surrey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Horticultural Buyer in Manchester
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like All The Top Bananas.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like All The Top Bananas.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at All The Top Bananas; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Horticultural Buyer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at All The Top Bananas.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Horticultural Buyer.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what All The Top Bananas is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at All The Top Bananas a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at All The Top Bananas might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
