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- Tasks: Support buying and trading for retail and partnerships while analysing market trends.
- Company: Boden, a friendly and inclusive British brand with a focus on diversity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous clothing allowance, 30% discount, and 25 days holiday.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and make an impact in the retail buying world.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying, strong communication skills, and a passion for partnerships.
- Other info: Flexible working with 3-4 days in the office and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
This Assistant Buyer position is integral to understanding our brand and our customer in all our trading regions, specifically retail stores and UK partnerships. They will also take responsibility, under the supervision of the Junior Buyer, for buying and trading retail and partnership channels.
Location: 3‑4 days per week at our North Acton office, the rest WFH.
What You Will Do
- Commercial Awareness: Regularly monitor and analyse competitor’s prices and activities. Remain constantly and proactively aware of market and seasonal trends. Work closely with internal marketing and merchandising to understand retail customer trends and moments.
- Range Building: Support delivering a balanced range with all partners, considering all attributes and Big Ideas. Use knowledge of physical retail spaces and fixtures to create ranges that are commercial, visually exciting and offer outfitting. Help implement department strategy for the season. Work with buying and merchandising to understand and assist with stock in and out, ensuring the store/partnership remains on brand. Work with Merchandising and the Junior Buyer to define category planning and mixes by channel; taking into account Boden product strategy, sales history and partner trends. Work with senior management to arrange VM meetings and present ranges in stories to inform VM packs and floor plans, ensuring a clear message. Manage partner product requirements and work with development teams to ensure needs are met. Build & maintain partner relationships with key stakeholders. Present and sign off ranges with Head of Partnerships and Head of Merchandising.
- Critical Path Management: Work with the Merch team to understand any late deliveries or AQLs that could impact store packages/partners. Keep the team up to date on key moments in weekly meetings. Ensure the critical path is updated and highlights issues. Ensure PLM is accurately updated in systems by allocation deadline post internal meetings changes and submit to allocators. Work with the BAA to ensure product files are sent to external partners on time and accurately to enable product launch.
- Trading: Understand and present weekly and seasonal sales and suggest appropriate action to maximise sales and profit in all channels. Work with merchandising to analyse weekly sales and, from this, define and implement trading actions across all channels. Deliver seasonal strategy packs by drop for all relevant channels. Drive sales by agreeing trading actions based on competitor analysis. Ensure all necessary documents and systems are completed accurately and ahead of time to ensure smooth delivery and trading of product ranges across all channels.
- Management: Manage and develop the BAA and keep them performing well and motivated by giving regular feedback. Conduct performance reviews for BAA and set smart objectives within PDP. Continuing to manage the day‑to‑day workload of the BAA. Build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners.
What We Are Looking For:
- Already at experienced BAA level or currently at AB level looking for a change.
- Passionate about a career in Buying and Partnership management.
- Creative with a keen eye for detail.
- Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
- Experience of being part of a team.
- Some retail buying experience.
- Organised, adaptable and enjoys a challenge.
- Clear communication skills.
- Good problem‑solving skills.
- Great time management.
- Ability to multitask.
- Ability to work independently.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme.
- Generous Boden clothing allowance.
- 30% discount on all current clothing ranges.
- 25 days holiday annually, plus Bank Holidays.
- Online portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment.
- Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Free onsite parking and subsidised café.
We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open and tolerant. A best‑of‑British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job, whoever they are, helping them thrive in it and celebrating their individuality. We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Assistant Buyer - Retail and Wholesale employer: Boden
Contact Detail:
Boden Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Retail and Wholesale
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Boden's brand values, recent collections, and their approach to retail and partnerships. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn, attend industry events, or join relevant groups. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to buying and trading. Think about how you can demonstrate your commercial awareness and problem-solving skills. Use examples from your past experiences to back up your answers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and really keen on the role. Good luck, we’re rooting for you!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Retail and Wholesale
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for buying and partnership management shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about the role and what it entails.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer position. Highlight relevant experience, especially in retail buying and team collaboration. We love seeing how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary and avoid jargon. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Boden
✨Know Your Competitors
Before the interview, do your homework on Boden's competitors. Understand their pricing strategies and recent activities in the market. This will not only show your commercial awareness but also help you discuss how you can contribute to Boden's competitive edge.
✨Showcase Your Range-Building Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience with range building. Bring examples of how you've created visually exciting and commercially viable ranges in the past. Highlight your understanding of physical retail spaces and how that knowledge can benefit Boden.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Since the role involves analysing sales data and market trends, be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive trading actions in previous roles. Share specific examples where your analysis led to successful outcomes, showing your ability to maximise sales and profit.
✨Build Relationships
Boden values strong partnerships, so emphasise your relationship-building skills. Prepare to discuss how you've managed relationships with stakeholders in the past and how you plan to maintain and develop these at Boden. This will demonstrate your fit within their collaborative culture.
