At a Glance
- Tasks: Take charge of product development and range building in home textiles.
- Company: Fast-growing online home retailer with a dynamic team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to influence product offerings.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for creativity and trend spotting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by creating trendy, high-quality home products.
- Qualifications: 3+ years buying experience in a fast-paced retail environment.
We are recruiting on behalf of a fast-growing online home retailer for a Buyer to join its Home Textiles team. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially focused Buyer to take ownership of product development and range building across bedding and filled bedding, helping to deliver on-trend, high-quality products at competitive prices. The successful candidate will work closely with Design, Merchandising, Ecommerce and Supply Chain, managing the journey from initial product concept through to launch.
Key responsibilities
- Range Building & Product Development
- Build commercially focused ranges balancing core, seasonal and new products.
- Manage the product development process from initial concept through to launch.
- Work closely with Design and senior buying colleagues throughout the development process.
- Oversee and sign off samples, including lab dips, strike offs, red seals and gold seals.
- Identify emerging trends, colours, fabrics and customer preferences and translate these into commercially viable products.
- Review product quality and specifications throughout the sample process.
- Commercial & Financial
- Deliver agreed sales, intake margin and achieved margin targets.
- Negotiate cost prices, payment terms, MOQs and lead times with suppliers.
- Analyse sales at category, option and SKU level.
- Identify opportunities for repeats, extensions, promotions and product exits.
- Contribute to promotional and markdown planning.
- Prepare and present range reviews, trade updates and post-season analysis.
- Supplier Management & Supply Chain
- Manage the critical path from design brief through to product launch.
- Work with Far East factories and agents to ensure products are delivered on time and to agreed quality standards.
- Develop strong supplier relationships and identify new sourcing opportunities.
- Work closely with Supply Chain on shipping, lead times and intake.
- Proactively manage and resolve delays or issues.
- Customer, Market & Multichannel Trading
- Maintain a strong understanding of the target customer and value home market.
- Monitor competitors, pricing, ranges and product trends.
- Work with Ecommerce to ensure products are accurately presented online.
- Support marketplace and social commerce channels.
- Brief and supply products for photography, campaigns and influencer activity.
About you
We're looking for an experienced Buyer with:
- Around 3+ years' buying experience within an online or multichannel retailer.
- Experience buying within Home, Seasonal, Soft Furnishings or a comparable fast-paced category.
- Experience managing critical paths and delivering ranges to deadline.
- Experience negotiating directly with suppliers on cost, terms and lead times.
- Experience managing samples and product approvals through to bulk production.
- Strong commercial awareness and confidence analysing sales and margin data.
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Confidence presenting ranges and commercial information.
- Good Excel and IT skills.
Desirable experience
- Overseas sourcing and factory visits.
- Textiles, bedding or soft furnishings.
- Experience growing a product area from a standing start.
- Strong knowledge of value home retailers and the wider home market.
- Understanding of textile fabrics, constructions and performance characteristics.
The successful candidate will be commercially driven, product passionate and comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced environment. You'll need to be someone who enjoys spotting trends, challenging suppliers, managing detail and working collaboratively across Buying, Merchandising, Design, Ecommerce and Supply Chain. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing online retail business where you can have genuine ownership of your category and influence the product proposition. To apply, please submit your CV or contact us for a confidential discussion.
Buyer in Manchester employer: Axon Moore
Axon Moore is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and creative work culture in Ulverston, where innovation thrives. With a competitive salary of up to £45,000, generous benefits including 25 days holiday, and a strong emphasis on employee development, this role as Playground Design Manager offers the chance to lead impactful projects while growing your career in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Manchester
✨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 Axon Moore, 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 Axon Moore!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Manchester
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 Axon Moore, 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 Axon Moore 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 Axon Moore that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Axon Moore
✨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!
