At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage Girlswear category, develop products, negotiate prices, and drive department strategy.
- Company: Boden, a stylish and inclusive brand that values collaboration and fun.
- Benefits: Generous clothing allowance, 30% discount, 25 days holiday, and virtual GP service.
- Other info: Friendly culture with opportunities for growth and diverse teams.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and make impactful decisions in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Junior Buyer or Senior Assistant Buyer with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.
Stylish, grounded, uplifting – these values live through everything we do at Boden.
Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
We curate a world of beauty that’s ethical, inclusive – and importantly – good fun.
We inspire you to live your best life.
We are Boden.
Overview
The Junior Buyer is responsible for managing their own category on our Girlswear area and, with the support of your Senior Buyer, will help manage an Assistant Buyer and Buying Admin Assistant.
As a Junior Buyer, you will help with developing and sourcing the range, negotiating prices, managing a robust supply base, helping contribute and help drive a department strategy to deliver amazing Boden product to our customer.
Location
4 days per week at our North Acton office, the rest WFH.
This is a
12 Month Maternity Cover role. Ideally looking for a February start date next year.
- How We Lead At Boden
- Being a manager at Boden is about giving people clarity, backing them properly, and helping them do their best work.
- You make things make sense. You take big ideas and turn them into clear priorities, so people know what they’re doing and (most importantly) why it matters.
- Your communication is clear and open – you listen and you don’t overcomplicate things.
- You take responsibility. When big decisions need to be made, you make them. When things change, you adapt. And when things don’t go to plan, you own it and move things forward.
- You stay close to what matters – our customer, our brand and our goals – using that to guide decisions and keep teams aligned.
- Most importantly, you build a team people actually want to be a part of – where people feel trusted, supported and able to grow.
What You Will Do
- Drive the development of our amazing product working closely with our Product areas including Design, Garment Technology and Merchandising.
Additionally, work well with the Fabric team to book and monitor fabric/yarn commitment to trade effectively through the season.
- Continue to grow our strong relationships with our suppliers to get the best price, quality, reliability and repeat lead times, and help shape our Supplier Strategy.
- Set realistic margin targets and negotiate to meet them every season.
- Strong critical path management both internally and with supply base.
- Understand our Brand and our customer in all our trading regions.
Be customer focused in the way you work and the decisions you make.
Be aware of economic and social trends that impact our business.
- React fast to current trade and look ahead to future ranges, flagging risks and opportunities in clear, simple messages.
Agree trigger dates with suppliers so we can move quickly.
- Get the best out of your team with regular 121s, performance reviews, clear targets and honest feedback, delegating sensibly and with our brand values at the heart of it.
- Talk things through early, so decisions get made and nothing gets held up.
- Keep PLM/S5 accurate and up to date at all times.
- What We Are Looking For
- Ideally someone at Junior Buyer level or an established Senior Assistant Buyer looking for a step up.
- Experience owning a category is important. You help make the important decisions and you’re proud of the result.
- You’re proactive with your approach, with a great can-do attitude. When plans change or things go wrong, you find a way through and keep things moving.
- Be both commercial and creative with a keen eye for detail.
- Great taste and strong competitor awareness.
- Ability to influence and communicate effectively at all levels.
- Strong analytical and communication skills.
- Data Management skills (inc. Excel and Microsoft Office)
- Be organised, adaptable and enjoy a challenge.
- Our Behaviours
- At Boden, how we work matters just as much as what we deliver.
- We keep things simple. We say what we mean, keep each other in the loop, and follow through on what we’ve said we’ll do.
- We care about doing a good job - and we care about each other.
- We’re always kind, often honest, and we will push for high standards without making it heavy.
- We know what we’re good at, we lean on each other when needed, and we show up as a team - taking ownership and getting things done together.
What We Offer
• 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.
Junior Buyer (Childrenswear) - 12 Month Maternity Cover in London employer: BODEN
Boden is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where data-driven decision-making is at the forefront of our merchandising strategies. With a flexible working arrangement that allows for a blend of office and home-based work, employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance while having ample opportunities for professional growth and mentorship. Join us in North Acton to be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and excellence in retail and wholesale partnerships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Buyer (Childrenswear) - 12 Month Maternity Cover 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 BODEN, 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 BODEN!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Buyer (Childrenswear) - 12 Month Maternity Cover 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 BODEN, 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 BODEN 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 BODEN that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at BODEN
✨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!
