At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the latest womenswear trends and collaborate with creative teams to deliver standout products.
- Company: Join ASOS, a fashion-forward company that values your individuality and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, performance bonuses, and an awesome employee discount.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that encourages growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion industry while working with a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Buyer or Junior Buyer in a fast-paced retail environment.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
Company Description
We're ASOS. We blend our flair for fashion with our love of cutting-edge technology, but more importantly we're interested in how we can bring the best out of you. We exist to give people the confidence to be whoever they want to be, and that goes for our people too. At ASOS, you're free to be your true self without judgment, and channel your creativity into a platform used by millions.
Job Description
The Role
Buyers play a critical role at ASOS, working closely with Merchandising, Design and Technical teams to build a commercial and trend-led product range for the department that is loved by the ASOS 20-something customer. They are collaborative, organised, and strategic with their finger on the pulse of fashion - always looking to push the range for our global markets forward. In partnership with Merchandising, and with the support of relevant customer and market insights, Senior Buyers are responsible for the delivery of sales and profit targets through a cohesive product strategy.
The Team
The Buying team is instrumental in making ASOS the leading destination for fashion-loving customers across womenswear and menswear. Within our Own Buy function, which includes ASOS Design, ARRANGE and Collusion, our teams focus on developing and delivering a range that pushes the boundaries and meets the needs of our customer. Working collaboratively with several teams including Design, Merchandising, Marketing and Garment Technology, and with a wide global supplier base, our Buyers ensure that the product we deliver is the best it can be.
What you’ll be doing…
- Develop a cohesive range for the department, ensuring that product reflects the Brand strategy, the range is without gaps or duplication, and that the season is logically and commercially thought through.
- Working with Design to shape the product direction for the department, ensuring that it is aligned to the brand and divisional strategy.
- Delivering department KPIs to drive margin and profit, identifying and addressing any risks, in partnership with Merchandising.
- Anticipating the needs of the ASOS customer, using sales and trend data to deliver commercial product ranges that account for global factors.
- Trading effectively by identifying gaps in ranges and potentialising opportunities that will have the biggest impact on department performance, whilst effectively managing risk.
- Maintaining in-depth knowledge of planning and trading documents, using them to shape category analysis and evolution of the buy.
- Driving cost saving initiatives or ideas to become more cost efficient.
- Effectively range building, taking into account Options, ALB strategy and global requirements, with the flexibility to pivot in season to potentialise or de-risk.
- Working closely with Merchandising to build cohesive lessons learnt and ensuring buying is within OTB, influencing trend and performance.
- Building and leveraging relationships with a network of appropriate internal teams and external suppliers.
- Keeping up to date with global trends and competitor activity, reviewing product strategy considering competitor activity and initiatives.
- Maintaining a clear understanding of brand purpose and Fashion with Integrity and ensuring these principles are fully embedded within the team.
- Looking for opportunities to use sustainable materials wherever possible.
- Working closely with Marketing to identify promotional and marketing opportunities for brand and ensure clear and consistent brand messaging.
- Setting up a trialling calendar, engaging with key stakeholders to build program frameworks.
- Working closely with Sourcing to develop a sound supply base, striving for consistent best practice partnerships and highlighting any pinch points or saturation.
- Actively contributing to cross-functional initiatives and projects, welcoming and championing change.
- Leading and building a strong team of ABs and BAs, with a focus on growing future talent.
- Providing clear direction and development to the team, identifying individual training needs and encouraging collaborative ways of working.
- Motivating and engaging the team through recognition and regular feedback.
Qualifications
We’d love to meet someone who…
- Has significant experience operating as a Junior Buyer/Buyer within a fast-paced and rapidly changing global Retailer.
- Has proven ability to drive the success of a department through creative and commercial thinking.
- Has a creative eye with a strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and competitor activity.
- Has highly developed negotiation and influencing skills.
- Can gain buy-in from the team and management to potentialise opportunities.
- Demonstrates a commercial mindset, using data and insights to leverage opportunities that successfully contribute to the department and wider Retail strategy.
- Has in-depth knowledge of planning and trading documents, with the ability to challenge figures and plans, where necessary.
- Uses relevant market insights to aid decision making and achieve the best outcome for the business.
- Shows strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context, including global competitors’ product offer, pricing strategy and trading activity.
- Builds great relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
- Demonstrates an effective and inclusive leadership style, role modelling positive behaviours and providing the team with clear direction and development.
- Has strong prioritisation and systems skills, including relevant Trading systems and MS Office.
Additional Information
What's in it for you?
- Competitive salary, pension, and private medical care scheme.
- Performance related bonus.
- Flex benefits allowance - which you can choose to take as extra cash, or use towards other benefits.
- 25 days paid annual leave + an extra day for your birthday.
- Employee discount (hello ASOS discount!).
Summary
Type: Full-time
Function: Purchasing
Experience level: Mid-Senior Level
Industry: Retail
Buyer - Womenswear in London employer: ASOS
ASOS is an excellent employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering hybrid working arrangements that promote work-life balance. Employees benefit from generous perks such as 25 days of paid annual leave and exclusive discounts, while also having ample opportunities for professional growth in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment focused on innovation in payment processing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Womenswear in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like ASOS, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like ASOS!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Womenswear in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at ASOS, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at ASOS and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show ASOS that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at ASOS
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
