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- Tasks: Assist in creating an inspiring paint product range and drive sales through vendor partnerships.
- Company: Join B&Q, a leading retail company with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to £45,000 salary, 6.6 weeks holiday, hybrid working, and great pension options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the retail industry while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in sourcing, vendor management, and strong communication skills are essential.
- Other info: Access to diverse networks and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 54000 £ per year.
Assistant Buyer – Paint
Location: Southampton, Store Support Office
Job type: Full‑time, Permanent; Hybrid working (3 days per week in office).
Salary: Up to £45,000 + pension + PHI + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday.
Seniority level: Entry level
Overview
Work with the Buyer to create and deliver an inspirational product range that meets the needs of our customers. Drive sales, margin and market share across all channels, delivering vendor contributions, rebate and retail price index targets through strong vendor partnerships. Be responsible for the performance of specific sub‑categories and the relevant vendor relationships.
Responsibilities
- Work alongside the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets customer needs, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk while delivering against sales, margin and market share targets.
- Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range, building relationships with new and existing vendors that reflect the category strategy.
- Work with the Offer & Sourcing (O&S) team to shape and develop an own‑label proposition that meets the needs of customers and the market.
- Support the buying process with awareness of impact on cross‑functional teams, ensuring stock is ordered and delivered on time.
- Support end‑to‑end vendor strategy management including contract and cost‑price negotiation, delivery of vendor contributions and annual performance review.
- Gather insights to support the creation of the category pricing hierarchy in line with framework principles, supporting the Buying Assistant with inputs into the Minderest comparison tool.
- Support the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews.
- Support the creation and continuous improvement of customer journeys with the Visual Merchandising and Digital teams.
- Coordinate and execute the sampling process for range development, including QA and Lab set‑up requirements.
- Work collaboratively with vendors, Marketing and Digital teams to support the acquisition and delivery of marketing assets for range and trading.
- Ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes, with accurate and complete data.
- Use support tools such as Yammer to share category information and respond to queries.
- Conduct regular store (digital & physical), competitor and vendor visits to increase understanding of the market and support the creation of the trading plan.
- Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels to support the delivery of KPIs.
- Undertake other duties from time to time as reasonably required.
Required Skills & Experience
- Previous experience of sourcing and buying product ranges.
- Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
- Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Ability to build relationships at all levels.
- Attention to detail to assist with issue resolution and problem solving.
- Experience of managing projects and holding stakeholders accountable.
- Commercial and financial awareness.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Proactive.
- Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.
Benefits
As part of a great team, you’ll be valued for who you are. We’re committed to making B&Q more diverse and representative of the communities we serve, where everyone can feel they belong and have equal opportunities.
You will have access to a range of networks that represent our colleagues and allies and help us put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business.
Benefits include a competitive salary, award‑winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and more.
If you require any recruitment adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk.
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Assistant Buyer - Paint employer: B&q
Contact Detail:
B&q Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Paint
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at B&Q or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Show us you know what makes B&Q tick, especially in the paint category. Bring your ideas on how you can contribute to their success!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Assistant Buyer. We want to hear about your vendor management skills and how you can drive sales and market share.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at B&Q.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Paint
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer role. Highlight your experience in sourcing and buying product ranges, and don’t forget to mention any vendor management or contract negotiation skills you have. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the paint category and how your skills align with our needs. Be sure to show us your understanding of customer insights and market trends – we love that stuff!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication and influencing skills are key for this role, make sure to demonstrate these in your application. Whether it's through your writing style or examples of past experiences, let us know how you can build relationships at all levels.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive – a quality we really appreciate!
How to prepare for a job interview at B&q
✨Know Your Products
Before the interview, dive deep into the paint products B&Q offers. Familiarise yourself with their range, understand customer preferences, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to creating an inspirational product range.
✨Showcase Your Vendor Management Skills
Prepare examples of your experience in vendor management and contract negotiation. Think about specific situations where you successfully built relationships or resolved issues, as this will demonstrate your ability to drive sales and margin.
✨Understand Market Trends
Stay updated on current market trends in the paint industry. Be prepared to discuss how these trends could impact B&Q's product offerings and how you would leverage them to enhance the category proposition.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice your communication skills, especially when it comes to influencing stakeholders. Be ready to explain how you would manage relationships at various levels and ensure that everyone is aligned with the KPIs.
