At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage supplier relationships and negotiate product ranges to drive sales and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join Currys, the UK's leading tech retailer with a passionate team of 25,000.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, life assurance, staff discounts, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of tech retail, influencing product offerings and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong negotiation skills, and excellent analytical abilities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
At Currys we’re united by one passion: to help everyone enjoy amazing technology. As the UK’s best‑known retailer of tech, we’re proud of the service our customers receive – it’s all down to our team of 25,000 caring and committed colleagues. Working as one team, we learn and grow together, celebrating the moments that make every day amazing.
Positioned within the commercial team, you will be at the centre of a fast‑paced environment, working hand in hand with operations and go‑to‑market teams and building strong relationships with our supplier partners. You will select and negotiate product ranges, pricing, terms and conditions, ensuring competitive cost pricing and promotions that maximise margin and sales while securing differentiation against competitors. You will use your influencing skills to secure support for range extension (dropship) business and collaborate closely with brands, vendors, and the go‑to‑market team. As an Assistant Buyer/Vendor Manager you will support operations within dropship, ensuring customer satisfaction in line with business priorities and NPS. You will work with the wider team to maintain a single‑business mentality and to develop the broader category strategy.
Key Responsibilities
- Managing category supplier relationships in line with our commercial supplier strategy and category strategy.
- Developing a sourcing strategy to deliver the best ranges and support the core category strategy, with availability and marketing roadmap.
- Working with suppliers to understand future technology roadmaps and anticipate changes in customer trends and demand.
- Negotiating product ranges – cost pricing, additional terms, exclusivity, distribution, and stock availability.
- Negotiating fixed and variable financial terms related to ranging, activity and performance.
- Negotiating promotional funding support to drive sales while maintaining margin within financial objectives.
- Securing product and promotional differentiation 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 and minimise cost exposure.
- Using customer and market data to ensure correct ranges and promotional plans drive customer loyalty.
- Resolving supplier issues related to cost price, product, stock, and other queries.
Required Skills & Experience
- Buying experience within a fast‑paced retailer (FMCG, fashion or hard goods).
- Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage supplier partnerships.
- Good judgment and decisive decision‑making ability.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills to review data and recommend action plans.
- Strong planning, organisational and multitasking skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to present to senior stakeholders and collaborate cross‑functionally.
- Customer champion with commercial awareness and understanding of customer needs.
- Proficient with SharePoint, Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MS Office workflow tools.
- Experience meeting deadlines and managing critical paths.
- Strong presentation and speaking skills.
- Knowledge of internal controls and ability to recommend improvements.
- Experience in dropship management with high SKU volume (preferred, not essential).
Benefits
- 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 ensure 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 Vendor Manager employer: Currys PLC
At Currys, we pride ourselves on being a leading tech retailer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment. As an Assistant Vendor Manager at our London Campus, you will benefit from a supportive culture that encourages professional growth, with opportunities to develop your negotiation and analytical skills while working closely with a dynamic team. Enjoy a competitive benefits package, including 25 days of annual leave, life assurance, and hybrid working arrangements, all while contributing to a company that values every voice and champions diversity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Vendor Manager
✨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 Vendor Manager
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!
