At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Senior Buyer in delivering a commercially effective product range and maximising sales.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a leading retail company with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus scheme, staff discounts, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Engage in social events and contribute to sustainability initiatives.
- Why this job: Make an impact in product development while learning from experienced professionals.
- Qualifications: Strong commercial awareness, negotiation skills, and ability to build relationships.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Senior Assistant Buyer to support the Senior Buyer delivering a commercially effective product range that meets customer needs and maximises sales and profitability. The role involves close management of critical timelines, applying strong commercial and strategic insight, and driving performance through informed decision‑making. The successful candidate will take ownership of a specific category or area, while also supporting the Senior Buyer, deputising when required, and coaching and developing the Buying Assistant.
Responsibilities
- Commercial Awareness & Strategic Thinking: Identify and analyse best and worst sellers to be presented in Monday trade meetings, feeding back key points to the Senior Buyer accordingly and suggesting opportunities to improve sales on poorer performing lines. Review and analyse sales at weekly and seasonal level by territory and channel to identify future opportunities and strategies. Complete supplier ratings and SWOT analysis to form supplier strategy. Present the range to the creative, photography and web teams, highlighting key selling features and marketing messages to best promote the product across all channels.
- Market Awareness: Conduct regular CT store visits and provide feedback to the team and Senior Buyer. Conduct regular comp shop trips to maintain knowledge of the competitive market and feed back relevant findings to the Senior Buyer. Make informed suggestions to support department growth and develop new product ideas.
- Range Building & Product Development: Develop a product area or sub-range under the guidance of the Senior Buyer. Build the range through a range framework sheet to create a balanced and commercial range for all territories and channels. Alongside the Senior Buyer and Designer, order, receive, review and approve CADs, lab dips, knit‑downs, handlooms, strike‑offs and sample lengths according to critical dates. Prepare for, attend and present in all seasonal Range meetings to the senior leadership team. Review proto and photo samples with Senior Buyer, Designer and Technologist to agree all final product details and communicate comments to suppliers, ensuring they receive amended design and tech packs.
- Price Negotiations: Set up negotiation sheets, obtaining all cost prices and negotiating to ensure target margin is achieved on the specific category or area.
- Technical Duties: Attend new development risk assessment meetings and, alongside Design and Technical teams, agree styles for wearer trial and further testing. Ensure tech packs are correct and support the briefing of new developments to suppliers. Attend seasonal fit sessions, working with the Technologist, Designer and Senior Buyer to suggest improvements to product fit and finish. Attend fit sessions with the Technologist to ensure timely approval of fit, sealer and shipment samples in accordance with critical dates, and keep suppliers updated with correct specifications. Analyse returns reports with the Technologist and communicate results to the Senior Buyer.
- Critical Path Management: Take full accountability for meeting all critical path dates. Collate and analyse all key trigger dates to form the department’s seasonal critical path, agreeing all deadlines with suppliers and highlighting any alerts to the Senior Buyer and Merchandiser. Oversee the BAA management of the critical path by supplier and department, solving problems efficiently and updating the Senior Buyer to prevent delays.
Qualifications
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the buying and product cycles.
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills – the ability to initiate and build strong relationships within the team, across functions and with suppliers.
- Commercial awareness of the market and competitors.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Strong understanding of the manufacturing processes, including garment and fabric make and finishing, and their implications on total lead times.
- Strong numerical, analytical and interpretive skills.
- A confident presenter who can influence.
- Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to identify potential risks or issues and suggest mitigations.
- Able to effectively manage a direct report and delegate effectively.
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft programmes.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and excellent bonus scheme.
- An entrepreneurial environment encouraging initiative and change to drive the business forward.
- Staff discount from the first day, not only at CT but also at The White Company.
- Hybrid working policy with office attendance 3–4 days per week (14 days onsite across a 4‑week period, Monday set days).
- Commitment to charitable partnerships and sustainability.
- Social events such as Christmas and summer parties and a dedicated CT Social Team to keep engagement high.
Assistant Buyer in City of Westminster employer: Charles Tyrwhitt
As an Assistant Buyer at our company, you will thrive in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment that fosters initiative and innovation. With a competitive salary, excellent bonus scheme, and a hybrid working policy, we prioritise work-life balance while offering opportunities for professional growth and development. Our commitment to sustainability and community engagement, alongside social events that enhance team spirit, makes us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer in City of Westminster
✨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 Charles Tyrwhitt, 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 Charles Tyrwhitt!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer in City of Westminster
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 Charles Tyrwhitt, 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 Charles Tyrwhitt 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 Charles Tyrwhitt that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles Tyrwhitt
✨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!
