At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist in creating an inspiring product range and drive sales through vendor partnerships.
- Company: Join B&Q, a leading retail organisation committed to building great careers.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, discounts, and health support.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customers' homes while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in sourcing, vendor management, and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
12 Month FTC Up to £45,000 + Hybrid Working (3 days 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 an Assistant Buyer and you’ll be a big part of this.
What's the job?
- 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:
- 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?
- Flexible & Hybrid Working - Work in a way that helps you perform at your best, balancing business needs with personal commitments.
- Career Growth & Development - Access learning, development and career opportunities across one of the UK's leading retail organisations.
- Competitive Reward Package - A competitive salary, pension and a range of financial benefits.
- Colleague Discounts - Enjoy discounts across B&Q and the wider Kingfisher Group.
- Health & Wellbeing Support - Access wellbeing resources, health support and employee assistance programmes designed to help you thrive.
- Time Away From Work - Generous holiday entitlement and family-friendly policies that support life both inside and outside work.
- A Place Where You Belong - We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to be themselves.
- Make a Difference - The work you do will have a direct impact on our customers, colleagues and business.
Eligibility To Work
Please note that B&Q does not currently offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application and throughout their employment.
Accessibility & Disability Confident
At B&Q, we're committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience for everyone. If you require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to help you complete your application or throughout the recruitment process, please let us know. If you would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please contact us at. If you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we'll consider your application in line with our Disability Confident commitments.
Assistant Buyer - Flooring employer: B&Q
B&Q Peckham is an excellent employer that prioritises a supportive work culture and employee development, offering a range of benefits such as Life Assurance, Employee Assistance, and generous leave. Working here means being part of a friendly team dedicated to creating positive shopping experiences for customers, while also enjoying unique perks like discounts and a cycle to work scheme in a vibrant community setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Flooring
✨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 B&Q, 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 B&Q!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Flooring
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 B&Q, 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 B&Q 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 B&Q that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at B&Q
✨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!
