At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage supplier relationships and negotiate product ranges in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Currys, a leading tech retailer passionate about amazing technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, life assurance, staff discounts, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of innovation, driving product range expansion in appliances.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong negotiation skills, and excellent analytical abilities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Currys London Campus at Waterloo – Fixed Term Contract - 12 Months – Full Time – Grade 3. At Currys we’re united by one passion: to help everyone enjoy amazing technology. Working as one team, we learn and grow together, celebrating the big and small moments that make every day amazing.
Positioned within the commercial team, you will be at the centre of a fast‑paced group, working hand in hand with the operations and go‑to‑market teams and building strong relationships with our supplier partners. You will select and negotiate product ranges and pricing, all terms and conditions, and all investments in our business and its activity. You are accountable for ensuring cost pricing and promotions that allow us to remain competitive while maximizing margin and sales and securing adequate differentiation against competitors.
You will need excellent relationship‑building skills, working closely with our brands and vendors, the go‑to‑market team, and using your influencing skills to secure support to drive the range extension (dropship) business forward. You will be responsible for products within the Appliances (e.g. SDA) business category, and will need interest and knowledge of this product category, market trends, upcoming brands and key competitor activity. Also, you will support operations within dropship to ensure customer satisfaction in line with business priorities and NPS.
As assistant category buyer you will work with the wider team, ensuring capable and committed colleagues and a one‑business mentality.
Key Responsibilities- Managing your category supplier relationships in line with our overall commercial supplier strategy and the category strategy.
- Harness credible relationships with your suppliers and develop a sourcing strategy to bring customers the best ranges and support the core category strategy, supported with availability and marketing roadmap.
- Work with suppliers to develop a strong understanding of the future technology roadmap, enabling the category to adequately plan for likely changes in customer trends and demand.
- Negotiating product ranges – cost pricing, additional terms, exclusivity, distribution, stock availability with distributors.
- Negotiating additional fixed and variable financial terms related to ranging, activity and performance.
- Negotiating promotional funding support to drive sales while maintaining margin in line with financial objectives.
- Securing adequate product and promotional differentiation from competitors to support market share growth objectives.
- Pricing the product range in line with agreed category CPI targets.
- Working with the returns team to ensure adequate supplier returns agreements are in place contractually to meet customer service requirements and minimize cost exposure after sale.
- Using customer and market data provided by the go to market team to ensure correct ranges and promotional plans are in place to drive customers for life.
- Remedy all supplier issues relating to cost price, product, stock, and other queries.
- Buying experience working within an FMCG/Fashion or Hard Goods fast‑paced retailer.
- Negotiation skills and ability to manage all supplier partnerships.
- Good judgment and strong decision‑making skills to enable the right actions for the category.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills to review data and provide recommendations/ actions plans to drive sales, profit and cash.
- Good planning, organisational and multitasking skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of presenting to senior stakeholders as well as working cross‑functionally to achieve the desired results.
- Customer champion with excellent commercial awareness and understanding of customer needs.
- Good working knowledge of SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word and PowerPoint as well as MS Office workflow tools.
- Experience of working to deadlines and managing critical paths.
- Good presentation and speaking skills.
- Monitor internal controls and make recommendations as needed.
- Dropship management and knowledge with high SKU volume (preferred, not essential).
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holiday entitlement.
- Life Assurance.
- Staff discounts and offers.
- Hybrid Working (with an expectation to meet in person 2‑4 times per month).
Every voice has a space at our table and we’re committed to making inclusion and diversity part of everything we do, including how we strengthen our workforce. We want to make sure you have a fair opportunity to show us your talents during our application process, so if you need any additional assistance with your application please email careers@currys.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help.
Assistant Buyer/Vendor Manager - Range Expansion (Appliances) employer: Currys PLC
At Currys, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and growth. Located at our London Campus in Waterloo, you will enjoy a supportive environment with opportunities for professional development, competitive benefits including 25 days of annual leave, life assurance, and staff discounts, all while working with a passionate team dedicated to delivering outstanding technology experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer/Vendor Manager - Range Expansion (Appliances)
✨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 Currys PLC, 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 Currys PLC!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer/Vendor Manager - Range Expansion (Appliances)
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 Currys PLC, 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 Currys PLC 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 Currys PLC that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Currys PLC
✨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!
