Buyer - Menswear

Buyer – Menswear

Full-Time | Kingston-Upon-Thames

Crew Clothing Company was founded in Salcombe in 1993. Today Crew is a great British brand, and our success lies in our authentic passion for producing great looking, well made clothes. We now have more than 70 stores and a thriving website, and the business continues to grow. Our people are at the heart of our company. With a passion for exceptional service, and a love for our product, our team is dedicated to offering the best customer experience – nothing is too much trouble.

Purpose of the role

Supports the Head of Buying in the commercialisation of agreed Crew Menswear product range to drive profitable sales growth. This role manages the process to ensure that the collections, once designed are appropriately priced and that they are effectively produced to the quality expectations of the Crew customer and inline with agreed sourcing routes. A sound awareness of the Menswear marketplace and sales performance will ensure balanced and relevant range development.

Product development

• Deliver agreed product range from proto stage to product delivered in store.
• Identify new product opportunities and present these to Head of Buying & B&M Director
• Delivery range that meets all established targets (intake margin, cost price, profitable, commercial and on-brand)
• 95% on time delivery through all channels.
• Exceptional range building skills and understanding of Crew vision to deliver against that.
• Management of Admin Assistant as necessary within team structure.
• Delivery of profitability & maximising sales through trading if identified.
• Be involved with understanding the range frameworks to include options, price points, and best selling lines identified from previous seasons to enable a well-balanced range.
• Liaise with design and technical on a weekly basis to manage design, sampling and production Critical Path to achieve on time delivery and minimum 95% launch availability
• Monitor product during all stages of development and manufacturing to ensure that they meet brand requirements and are to specification
• Attend fit meetings where appropriate with design and garment tech teams to ensure continuity of fit and execution of new blocks

Supplier relationships

• Develop strong working relationships with all supply partners – liaise on all stages of product development, negotiation and production stages and communicate regularly and consistently.
• Negotiate prices, execute and deliver product ranges, which exceed budgeted intake margin for all channel ranges and exceed customer expectations, in line with Head of Buying expectations.
• Manage production process from SMS confirmation to delivery into warehouse and communicate progress effectively.
• Manage OTB process to ensure in season trading opportunities are identified and delivered

Team working

• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively at all times within team and wider business.
• Attend weekly departmental team and trade meetings to ensure team is well informed and prepared and trading opportunities identified
• Work closely with the Merchandisers to ensure the signed off range reflects the agreed options and product/colour mix. Revisit in line with in seasonal performance
• By way of Monthly store visits, marketing and analysis of key competitors – gain better understanding of both Crews position in the market place, target customer and identify opportunities to change / improve

Online & Channels

• Manage salesman sample process from initial design prototype through to final stage
• Ensure all SMS samples are available to Channels within given timelines, and are executed to meet requirements
• Manage category sample invoices for each season to reduce the development costs involved
• Ensure all Direct and Marketing requirements are met on time to ensure Crew catalogue and website launch dates are achieved
• Ensure all correct samples are handed over to photo shoot and PR, and communicate any subsequent changes

Key Skills & Experience

Essential –

• Experience in same or similar role within Menswear.
• Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with Supplier and strong sourcing skills with Bangladesh/China.
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Excellent computer literacy in Excel /Outlook/Word
• Ability to prioritise and manage a work schedule whilst working to tight deadlines
• Team work but motivated and able to work independently.
• Understanding of the Buying function and critical Path processes and skilled in management of.
• Able to work with pace and energy.
• Energetic and dynamic.

Desirable –

• Desire to learn Understanding of garment construction and production processes.
• Passion for product and keen to learn.
• Positive and solutions orientated.
• Keen to progress within role and Crew business.