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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product ranges, negotiate with suppliers, and analyse market trends.
- Company: Poundstretcher, a leading discount retailer with over 400 stores.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, generous holiday allowance, and staff discounts.
- Why this job: Take ownership of exciting product categories and make a real impact in retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail buying, strong negotiation skills, and analytical mindset.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: Poundstretcher Support Centre, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2BJ
At Poundstretcher, our Buyers are at the heart of everything we do. They shape the ranges our customers love, secure great value, and ensure our shelves are filled with exciting, relevant products.
We are now looking for an experienced Buyer with a General Merchandise background to join our team on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract, based at our Support Centre in Kirby Muxloe. This role covers our Party, Kitchen, and Stationery categories and offers a fantastic opportunity to take real ownership of a diverse and fast-moving product area within a value-led retail environment.
The Role
As a Buyer at Poundstretcher, you will play a critical role in our product journey. You will lead your assigned categories end to end - planning ranges, managing budgets, negotiating with suppliers, and responding to market trends to ensure commercial success. Working closely with the Senior Buyer and wider category team, you will help deliver ranges that exceed customer expectations while maintaining our strong value proposition.
Your Key Responsibilities
- Own and maximise the performance of your General Merchandise categories, identifying opportunities and risks and making clear commercial recommendations.
- Identify, create, and develop new range opportunities, leading the construction of robust and commercially successful plans.
- Analyse customer insights, sales data, and market trends to inform buying decisions and react to changing shopping behaviours.
- Visit suppliers and factories to develop ranges, negotiate cost prices, and explore new sourcing opportunities.
- Support the development and delivery of category strategies through research, spend analysis, and cost benchmarking.
- Work collaboratively across internal teams to ensure smooth execution of category plans.
Skills & Experience
We are looking for an experienced Buyer from a retail General Merchandise background who is commercially sharp, analytically strong, and confident working in a fast-paced environment. You will also bring:
- Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build effective, long-term supplier relationships.
- Proven experience delivering category strategies, plans, and targets, including KPIs, budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting.
- A proactive and agile mindset, comfortable adapting to changing priorities.
- A strong understanding of the GM sector and competitor landscape.
- A thorough understanding of the end-to-end supply chain process.
- Advanced Excel and strong analytical capability.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary (DOE)
- Free on-site parking for a stress-free commute
- Private Medical Insurance
- 10% staff discount on most in-store purchases
- My Staff Shop access for exclusive discounts across a wide range of brands
- Life assurance cover
- Health & wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme
- Generous holiday allowance of 33 days per year (including bank holidays)
If you are a commercially driven Buyer who thrives on building great ranges and delivering value for customers, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and be part of the Poundstretcher buying team.
Buyer - General Merchandise (12-Month Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover) employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - General Merchandise (12-Month Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail industry, especially those who have experience in buying. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Poundstretcher's product ranges and recent trends in General Merchandise. Show us you know your stuff and can bring fresh ideas to the table!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to secure great deals. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to build confidence.
✨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 - General Merchandise (12-Month Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buyer role at Poundstretcher. Highlight your experience in General Merchandise and any relevant achievements that showcase your negotiation skills and analytical capabilities.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed categories or developed product ranges in the past, and don’t forget to express your passion for retail!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical capabilities, mention any tools or methods you’ve used to analyse sales data or market trends. This will help us see how you can contribute to our category strategies.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Party, Kitchen, and Stationery categories. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular products, and what competitors are offering. This will show your passion for the role and help you discuss how you can enhance Poundstretcher's offerings.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations you've successfully handled. Think about how you secured better prices or built strong supplier relationships. Being able to articulate these experiences will demonstrate your capability in managing budgets and negotiating effectively.
✨Bring Data to the Table
Since the role requires strong analytical skills, be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform buying decisions in the past. Bring examples of how you've analysed sales data or customer insights to make strategic recommendations. This will highlight your analytical prowess.
✨Demonstrate Your Proactive Mindset
Poundstretcher values agility and adaptability. Prepare to share instances where you've had to pivot quickly in response to market changes or internal challenges. This will showcase your proactive approach and readiness to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
