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- Tasks: Lead product category, drive innovation, and ensure customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Kingfisher, a leader in home improvement.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and great perks.
- Other info: Gain professional HR qualifications and develop key business skills.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product selection and sustainability initiatives.
- Qualifications: Proven buying experience and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 48000 £ per year.
Permanent Salary from £48k + Pension + PHC + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + 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 a Buying Assistant and you’ll be a big part of this.
Buyer – Core Gardening OverviewLead a product category, driving innovation, and delivering customer satisfaction.
Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities- Develop and deliver category strategy, aligned to department strategy.
- Lead vendor negotiations and performance review.
- Source and select products (branded and own label).
- Deliver products and vendor contributions to deliver the trading plan.
- Act as the business expert on the product category, providing insights and recommendations across functions.
- Direct and influence Kingfisher initiatives relevant to the category, ensuring alignment with group strategy.
- Collaborate closely with marketing to align category plans with promotional and customer engagement strategies.
- Support the delivery of the sustainability plan through product selection and supplier engagement.
- Manage pricing architecture / price index.
- Take actions to deliver trading performance in collaboration with merchandising.
- Collaborating with all channels to execute customer facing proposition.
- Line management as required (could be shared resource).
- Delivering key milestones in line with agreed CPA.
- Proven buying experience in retail.
- Strong negotiation and commercial skills.
- Ability to interpret customer and market insights.
- Experience managing cross-functional projects.
- Willing to travel to visit suppliers, trade fairs, stores and competitors.
As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes:
- Award-winning pension scheme
- ShareSave options
- 6.6 weeks holiday
- Payroll giving
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Shopping discounts
- Colleague wellbeing benefits
- …and much more.
By the end of your development, you’ll have gained a professional HR qualification as well as key business and behavioural skills, which will be essential for your future success at the next level and beyond.
Equality and InclusionWe want to ensure that all employees, future employees, and applicants to all Kingfisher companies are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
Buyer - Core Gardening in Hampshire employer: B&q
Contact Detail:
B&q Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Core Gardening in Hampshire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the gardening and retail sectors. Attend industry events or join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their category strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you’ll need to demonstrate strong commercial acumen. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence before those crucial discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Core Gardening in Hampshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer - Core Gardening role. Highlight your buying experience and any relevant skills that match the job description. 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 gardening and how your experience aligns with our goals. Let us know what makes you the perfect fit for this role.
Showcase Your Negotiation Skills: Since strong negotiation skills are key for this position, be sure to include examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. We love seeing how you’ve made an impact in previous roles!
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. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at B&q
✨Know Your Products
Before the interview, dive deep into the gardening products relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular brands, and customer preferences. This will not only show your passion for the category but also demonstrate your ability to drive innovation.
✨Master Negotiation Scenarios
Prepare for potential negotiation scenarios you might face in the role. Think about how you would approach vendor negotiations or performance reviews. Practising these conversations can help you articulate your strategies clearly during the interview.
✨Showcase Cross-Functional Collaboration
Be ready to discuss examples of how you've successfully managed cross-functional projects in the past. Highlight your experience working with marketing or merchandising teams, as this aligns perfectly with the job's requirements and shows your collaborative spirit.
✨Align with Sustainability Goals
Research the company's sustainability initiatives and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to these goals through product selection and supplier engagement. Showing that you understand and support their values can set you apart from other candidates.