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- Tasks: Lead buying, planning, and stock allocation for a luxury handbag brand.
- Company: Join a purpose-driven brand empowering women and promoting sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and 50% employee discount on products.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while driving commercial success in the luxury industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or merchandising, strong analytical skills, and Excel proficiency.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values creativity, collaboration, and social responsibility.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are a modern affordable luxury handbag brand, crafting timeless and elegant styles that are made to last. Founded with a vision to do things differently, we create handbags that empower women, are sustainably sourced and ethically made, and give back to those who need it most. These principles guide everything we do. We are committed to driving change, championing equality, and celebrating women. Through our permanent charity initiative, ‘A Bag, A Life’, every purchase funds lifesaving vaccines and medical treatments for children in need, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages. To date, we have funded over 1,000,000 vaccines. Join us and be part of an award-winning, purpose-driven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.
Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager (FTC - 15 months)
Role Purpose
The Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager is responsible for the commercial execution of the collection strategy, translating the seasonal assortment into profitable sales and efficient stock management across E-commerce, Retail, and Wholesale. This role owns the end-to-end buying, forecasting, inventory planning, and allocation process, ensuring alignment with budgets, sales forecasts, and margin targets. Working closely with Collection Merchandising, Production, and Finance, the role plays a critical part in driving sell-through, managing risk, and maximising commercial performance in-season.
Responsibilities
- Buying & Commercial Planning: Own buying, planning, and stock allocation across all channels, ensuring alignment with overall commercial strategy, budgets, and sales forecasts. Build and execute seasonal buys by channel and region, balancing commercial opportunity, budget constraints, and stock risk. Ensure buys reflect channel-specific needs, customer behaviour, and assortment strategy.
- Forecasting & Demand Planning: Lead seasonal and in-season forecasting at SKU level, delivering buy forecasts ahead of buy deadlines to inform production capacity, margin optimisation, and cashflow planning. Reforecast regularly in-season to inform reorders, allocation changes, and commercial actions. Maintain forecast accuracy and accountability through clear assumptions and robust analysis.
- Performance Analysis & Hindsight: Lead performance hindsight and post-season analysis, reviewing sales, stock, margin, and pricing performance. Translate insights into clear recommendations for future assortment, buy depth, pricing, and lifecycle decisions in close collaboration with Collection Merchandising.
- OTB, Inventory & WSSI Management: Own and manage OTB, inventory levels, and WSSI across channels. Set and review sales, stock, and intake targets at product and category level. Monitor performance against KPIs, identifying risks and driving corrective actions while protecting margin and cash position.
- Allocation & Stock Optimisation: Own stock allocation to ensure the right product mix is available in the right location at the right time. Optimise allocation and replenishment strategies to support sell-through, availability, and customer demand across channels.
- In-Season Trading & Commercial Actions: Drive weekly trade performance, using in-season analysis to optimise sell-through and profitability. Recommend and implement reorders, pricing actions, promotions, and markdown strategies in line with commercial guidelines. Balance short-term trading opportunities with long-term margin and brand considerations.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Execution: Partner closely with Production to align forecasts, reorders, and capacity planning. Work with Collection Merchandising to align buy depth, lifecycle decisions, and pricing strategy. Collaborate with Finance to support financial forecasting, budgeting, and cashflow planning. Oversee buy execution and reporting, including purchase order management, cost of goods visibility, and commercial analysis to support stakeholders.
Experience & Skills
Significant experience in buying, merchandising planning, or allocation, ideally within luxury or premium fashion/accessories. Strong commercial and analytical capability, with deep experience managing OTB, WSSI, forecasting, and stock optimisation. Proven ability to trade in-season and make data-led commercial decisions. Advanced Excel / planning system capability and strong attention to detail. Confident stakeholder manager, able to influence cross-functionally and operate at pace.
Benefits
- Hybrid-working policy (1-2 days in the office).
- Annual Leave package increasing the longer you stay with us.
- Enhanced company maternity policy.
- Time given yearly to volunteer for a charity of your choice.
- Employee Discount: 50% off Stock and up to 90% off Seasonal Sample Sales.
- Free gift DeMellier bag on successful probation.
Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager employer: DeMellier
Contact Detail:
DeMellier Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their mission, especially around sustainability and empowering women, so you can show how you align with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in buying and planning can drive their commercial success. Keep it concise and focus on how you can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our purpose-driven brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for our brand and its mission shine through. We want to see how you connect with our values of sustainability and empowering women, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in buying, planning, and allocation. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in managing OTB, forecasting, and stock optimisation. We love seeing how your background aligns with what we do!
Be Data-Driven: Since this role is all about making data-led decisions, include any analytical achievements or tools you've used in your previous roles. Show us how you’ve used data to drive performance and make impactful decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at DeMellier
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the brand's story and values. Understand their commitment to sustainability and how they empower women through their products. This knowledge will not only impress but also help you align your answers with their mission.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Buying, Planning & Allocation Manager, you'll need strong analytical capabilities. Be prepared to discuss your experience with forecasting, inventory management, and data analysis. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive commercial decisions in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about past experiences where you had to manage stock allocation or respond to changing market demands. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with production, finance, or merchandising teams in the past. Highlight your communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders.