At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Buyer in delivering stylish clothing ranges and driving sales growth.
- Company: Crew Clothing, a brand rooted in timeless British style and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff discounts, uniform allowance, pension scheme, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a creative team and make an impact on fashion while learning the buying process.
- Qualifications: Experience in a similar role, strong communication skills, and a passion for fashion.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
At Crew Clothing, we believe clothes are about so much more than “just clothes”. Designed with the spirit of the south coast in every stitch, our crossed oars are a mark of timeless British style. These are clothes for life’s best moments. We believe in collaboration, kindness and creativity, in celebrating our successes and championing our customer at every step of the way. From ’93 to now, people have been at the heart of everything we do. It’s in our name – Crew.
Purpose of the role: The Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer in the smooth and commercial delivery of the Crew product range to drive profitable sales growth. This role supports the management of 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 in line with department and business expectations.
Responsibilities:
- Assisting Buyer in all aspects of the product development process
- Buy and develop ranges inline with agreed range and in line with business strategy
- Contracting orders to suppliers for all dept to Critical Path (delegating to BAA, if necessary)
- Oversee buying info on the range plan to ensure 100% accuracy and information entered in a timely manner
- Sample Management
- Critical path management
- Develop ranges to agreed plan and margin, making sure they are inline with agreed supply partners
- Place orders and manage to 95% availability
- Maximise sales through trading and OTB strategy (within agreed parameters)
- Manage critical path and own all approval stages
- Liaise with suppliers and sourcing to manage opportunities
- Liaise with merchandiser to produce lessons learnt for future ranges
- Produce monthly market and competitor reports to form strategies for future ranges
- Present ranges in sign off
- Be aware of sales and performance
- Understand cost price/margin/quantity requirements
Critical path and fit process:
- Update and manage the critical path weekly
- Report exceptions to all channel launch dates to buyer on weekly basis
- Liaise weekly with direct team, merchandising and technical through garment approval stages and update critical path
- Delegate or approve fabrics, colours and garment trims to delivery
- Attend fit sessions and approve through quickest technical staging
- Report to Buyer on QC issues to solutions
- Raise and follow through debit notes for late deliveries and ensure they are listed on logistics report
Samples:
- Ensure timely delivery of SMS and photo shoot samples according to critical path
- Manage SMS tracker and liaise with channels on handover
- Manage invoicing and courier charges for SMS samples (according to budget)
- Work with technical to manage fit sessions and sample organisation
- Arrange samples for sign off. Take notes and liaise on amendments to range plans
- Manage sample storage and delegate department tidiness to BAA, if necessary
People:
- Manage workload of Admin Assistant
- Work cross functionally on proof approvals for product collateral and input buying information to product database
Key Skills and Experience:
Essential:
- Experience in same or similar role
- 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
- Ability to initiate and build strong relationships with suppliers and other department members
- Teamwork but motivated and able to work independently
- Understanding of the buying function and critical path processes
- Skilled in management of others
- Able to work with pace and energy
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 the role
What we can offer you:
- Staff Discount
- Uniform allowance
- Pension scheme
- Refer a Friend scheme
- Training and career development
- Supportive and rewarding culture
Assistant Buyer Outlets in Kingston upon Thames employer: Crew Clothing Head Office
At Crew Clothing, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and creative work environment where employees are valued and supported in their professional growth. As an Assistant Buyer in Kingston, you will enjoy a range of benefits including staff discounts, a uniform allowance, and a pension scheme, all while being part of a team that champions kindness and celebrates success. With a strong focus on training and career development, Crew Clothing is an excellent employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the fashion industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer Outlets in Kingston upon Thames
✨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 Crew Clothing Head Office, 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 Crew Clothing Head Office!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer Outlets in Kingston upon Thames
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 Crew Clothing Head Office, 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 Crew Clothing Head Office 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 Crew Clothing Head Office that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Crew Clothing Head Office
✨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!
