At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Senior Buyer in creating a product range that maximises sales and meets customer needs.
- Company: Join a dynamic retail company with a focus on innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, staff discounts, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Enjoy legendary office parties and a culture that values giving back to the community.
- Why this job: Be part of a fun, entrepreneurial environment where your ideas can drive real change.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We are on the lookout for a Senior Assistant Buyer to support the Senior Buyer in 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.
What You Will Be Doing
- 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. Suggest 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 in order to best promote the product across all channels.
- Market Awareness: Conduct regular CT store visits and feed back to the team/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 range framework sheet to create a balanced and commercial range for all territories and channels. Alongside the Senior Buyer & Designer, order, receipt, 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. Communicate comments to suppliers, ensuring they receive amended design & tech packs.
- Price Negotiations: Set up negotiation sheets, obtaining all cost prices and negotiating to ensure target margin is achieved on 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 & Senior Buyer to suggest improvements to product fit and finish. Attend fit sessions with Technologist, ensure timely approval is given of fit, sealer and shipment samples in accordance with critical dates. Ensure suppliers are updated, with correct specifications, in a timely manner. 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. Highlight any alerts to the Senior Buyer & Merchandiser. Oversee the BAA management of the critical path by supplier and department, solving problems efficiently and updating the Senior Buyer to prevent delays.
What We Are Looking For
- Experienced Assistant Buyer in a Retail business
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the buying and product cycles
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload
- Strong interpersonal skills 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
What You Can Expect From Us
- Competitive salary and excellent bonus scheme
- An entrepreneurial environment where you’ll be encouraged to try things and make changes to drive the business forward
- You’ll have access to Staff Discount from your 1st day, not just at CT but also from The White Company!
- Our hybrid working policy means we work from the office 3-4 days per week (14 days onsite across a 4 week period, and Mondays are our set days in the office)
- We are proud to go about our business in the right way and partner with many charities and sustainability partners - ‘giving something back’ is an important part of our ethos
- At HQ we are serious about having fun. Our Christmas and summer parties are the stuff of legend and our CT Social Team ensure there is always something exciting to get involved in.
Senior Assistant Buyer - 12 Month FTC in London employer: Charles Tyrwhitt
As a Senior Assistant Buyer at our vibrant headquarters, you'll thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that champions innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive salaries, an excellent bonus scheme, and a generous staff discount from day one, alongside a hybrid working policy that promotes work-life balance. Our commitment to sustainability and community engagement, coupled with a fun and dynamic workplace culture, makes us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Assistant Buyer - 12 Month FTC in London
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Assistant Buyer - 12 Month FTC in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to Charles Tyrwhitt:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Charles Tyrwhitt! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles Tyrwhitt
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that Charles Tyrwhitt offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at Charles Tyrwhitt and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
