At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage supplier relationships and negotiate deals for data storage products.
- Company: Join Currys, the UK's leading tech retailer with a vibrant team culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy performance bonuses, product discounts, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape your career while making a positive impact on technology and the planet.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for tech.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ 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 – and 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 big and small moments that make every day amazing.
Positioned within our Hardware Support Commercial team, you'll play a key role in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, working closely with the Go-to-Market and Merchandising teams and building strong partnerships with leading suppliers. As a Buyer responsible for Data Storage, Networking and Fixed Line Phones, you’ll lead supplier negotiations, manage product ranges and commercial agreements, and drive investment opportunities that support our category strategy.
With a strong commercial mindset, you'll ensure competitive pricing for our customers while maximising profitability and creating meaningful differentiation in the market. You'll collaborate across multiple teams, using your relationship-building and influencing skills to deliver business growth, while also supporting the development of Assistant Buyers to help build a high-performing team aligned to our vision of helping everyone enjoy amazing technology.
As part of this role, you’ll be responsible for:
- Building and managing strategic supplier relationships, ensuring alignment with the overall commercial supplier strategy and category objectives.
- Developing sourcing strategies that deliver market-leading product ranges, strong availability, and the most competitive cost of goods.
- Working closely with suppliers to understand future technology roadmaps and market trends, translating insights into category plans and opportunities.
- Leading negotiations across product ranges, securing the best outcomes on pricing, trading terms, exclusivity, distribution agreements, and stock commitments.
- Negotiating and maximising commercial income opportunities, driving category profitability and EBIT performance.
- Managing category pricing to deliver competitive customer offers while achieving agreed margin and CPI targets.
- Resolving supplier issues relating to pricing, product availability, financial claims, contracts, and operational performance, ensuring minimal business impact.
- Coaching and developing direct reports, ensuring delivery against category targets and compliance with commercial processes and critical path milestones.
You will need:
- Proven buying experience within a fast-paced retail environment, ideally across FMCG, Fashion, Hard Goods or a related category.
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with the ability to build, manage and influence supplier partnerships to deliver business objectives.
- Highly analytical and numerate, with the ability to interpret trading performance data and develop actionable recommendations to drive sales, profit and cash performance.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, confident in presenting to senior leaders and collaborating across cross-functional teams.
- Customer-focused with a strong commercial mindset and understanding of how customer needs translate into category and ranging decisions.
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workload, manage multiple projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience of coaching, developing and supporting others, with the ability to identify capability gaps and promote continuous improvement.
- Previous people management or mentoring experience is desirable, with a passion for building high-performing teams.
We know our people are the secret to our success. That’s why we’re always looking for ways to reward great work. You’ll find a host of benefits designed to work for you, including:
- Performance related bonus
- Competitive pension scheme
- Product discounts on the latest tech
- A range of wellbeing initiatives
- Hybrid working; our primary Currys Campus is at Waterloo (WeWork)
Join our team and we'll be with you every step of the way, helping you develop the career you want with new opportunities, on-going training and skills for life.
Not only can you shape your own future, but you can help take charge of ours too. As the biggest recycler and repairer of tech in the UK, we’re in a position to make a real impact on people and the planet.
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.
Currys Career Opportunities: Buyer (Data Storage) employer: Currys
Currys is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment at their London Campus where innovation and collaboration thrive. Employees benefit from performance bonuses, product discounts on the latest technology, and ample opportunities for professional growth within a supportive team culture that values communication and creativity.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Currys Career Opportunities: Buyer (Data Storage)
✨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, 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!
We think you need these skills to ace Currys Career Opportunities: Buyer (Data Storage)
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, 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 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 that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Currys
✨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!
