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- Tasks: Assist in creating an exciting Christmas product range and manage vendor relationships.
- Company: B&Q is a leading home improvement retailer dedicated to helping customers create their dream homes.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to £45,000 salary, hybrid working, 6.6 weeks holiday, and a fantastic benefits package.
- Why this job: Join a diverse team where your ideas matter and make a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Previous buying experience, strong communication skills, and a knack for understanding market trends required.
- Other info: This is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, perfect for gaining valuable industry experience.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 54000 £ per year.
B&Q Chandler\’s Ford, England, United Kingdom
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B&Q Chandler\’s Ford, England, United Kingdom
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Fixed Term Contract – 12 Months
Up to £45,000 + Pension + BUPA + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working (3 dyas per week in the office)
Southampton, Store Support Office
We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as a Merchandisng Assistant and you’ll be a big part of this.
Overview
About the role
Assistant Buyer – Christmas
Fixed Term Contract – 12 Months
Up to £45,000 + Pension + BUPA + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working (3 dyas per week in the office)
Southampton, Store Support Office
We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as a Merchandisng Assistant and you’ll be a big part of this.
What\’s the job?
Role Purpose: Work with the Buyer to create and deliver an inspirational product range that meets the needs of our customers. Driving sales, margin (£GM & GM%)
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 subcategories and the relevant vendor relationships.
- Work alongside the Buyer to develop and implement a category proposition that meets our customer needs, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk, whilst delivering against sales, margin, and market share targets
- Support the sourcing and development of a compelling product range, through developing relationships with new and existing vendors, which reflect the category strategy
- Work alongside the Offer & Sourcing (O&S) team to shape and develop an own label proposition that meets the needs of our customers and market
- Support the buying process, with an awareness of impact on cross functional teams, allowing for flexibility adhering to a critical path, to ensure stock is ordered and delivered on time
- With the Buyer, 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
- With the category Merchandising team, support the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews
- With the Visual Merchandising and Digital teams, support the creation and continuous improvement of customer journeys within our physical stores and online
- With the Buying Assistant, co-ordinate 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, including leading on brochures for the Category (where required)
- With the Buying Assistant, ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes, with accurate 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 and inform decisions
- Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels, internally and externally, to support the delivery of KPIs
- Undertake other duties from time to time as may be reasonably required
What We Need
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 to account
- Commercial and financial awareness
- Flexible and adaptable
- Proactive
- Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint
What\’s in it for me?
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 to continue to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business.
We also recognise that wellness means different things to different people, and we want to help colleagues be at their best and feel well by offering a range of benefits to help you. As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes an award-winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and lots more!
So we can support you during the application or interview process, please contact recruitment@b-and-q.co.uk for any recruitment adjustments.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Job function
Purchasing and Supply Chain
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Industries
Retail
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Assistant Buyer - Christmas employer: B&q
Contact Detail:
B&q Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Christmas
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with B&Q's product range and seasonal trends, especially around Christmas. Understanding what products are popular during the festive season will help you demonstrate your knowledge and passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and buying sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights into the buying process and vendor management.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with vendor relationships and contract negotiations. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed these aspects, as they are crucial for the Assistant Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to discuss how you would gather insights on market trends and customer preferences. This will highlight your ability to contribute to the category strategy effectively.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Christmas
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in sourcing and buying product ranges. Emphasise any previous roles where you managed vendor relationships or negotiated contracts, as these are key skills for the Assistant Buyer position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for retail and how your skills align with B&Q's mission to improve homes. Mention specific examples of how you've driven sales or managed projects in the past, showcasing your ability to meet targets.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong communication and influencing skills are essential for this role, provide examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to build relationships at all levels. This could include experiences from previous jobs or projects.
Highlight Attention to Detail: B&Q values attention to detail, especially in problem-solving and issue resolution. Include instances in your application where your meticulous nature led to successful outcomes, whether in project management or vendor negotiations.
How to prepare for a job interview at B&q
✨Understand the Role
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the Assistant Buyer role. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as vendor management, product sourcing, and market analysis. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm for the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous experience in sourcing and buying product ranges. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed vendor relationships or negotiated contracts. This will highlight your suitability for the role and your ability to contribute to the team.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Strong communication is crucial for this role. During the interview, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might be asked about how you would manage stakeholder relationships, so think of examples where you've effectively influenced others or resolved conflicts.
✨Research B&Q and Its Market
Take some time to research B&Q, its product offerings, and its position in the market. Understanding their customer base and current trends will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their goals, especially during the Christmas season when product ranges are critical.
