At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Bathroom category, driving strategy and supplier relationships for innovative product ranges.
- Company: One of the UK's largest home improvement retailers with a focus on innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hybrid working, and strong career development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities to work cross-functionally and influence key business initiatives.
- Why this job: Shape the future of bathroom products while making a real impact in a dynamic retail environment.
- Qualifications: Proven buying experience in retail, strong negotiation skills, and commercial awareness.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity for an experienced Buyer to take ownership of a key Bathroom category within one of the UK's leading home improvement retailers. You’ll be responsible for developing category strategy, managing supplier relationships, driving commercial performance and delivering innovative product ranges that enhance the customer proposition.
Our client is one of the UK's largest and most recognised home improvement retailers, serving millions of customers across stores and online. With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability and customer experience, they continue to invest heavily in their product offering and category development.
This role sits within the Commercial team and offers the opportunity to lead a strategically important product category, influencing supplier partnerships, product selection, pricing strategy and commercial performance. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across merchandising, marketing, logistics and finance, whilst having the autonomy to shape category direction and drive long‑term growth.
The business offers a collaborative environment, strong career development opportunities and a flexible hybrid working model based from their Southampton Office.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and deliver the category strategy in line with wider commercial objectives.
- Lead supplier negotiations, performance reviews and ongoing relationship management.
- Source and select branded and own-label products.
- Deliver trading plans through effective product and supplier management.
- Act as the category expert, providing insight and recommendations to internal stakeholders.
- Influence wider group initiatives and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
- Partner with Marketing to maximise promotional activity and customer engagement.
- Support sustainability objectives through responsible product selection and supplier partnerships.
- Manage pricing architecture and price index positioning.
- Drive sales, margin, market share and category performance.
- Collaborate with Merchandising, Range & Space, Logistics, Finance and Channel teams.
- Support and manage team members where applicable.
- Proven buying experience within a retail environment, with demonstrable responsibility for the Bathroom category or closely related product categories.
- Strong commercial awareness with a track record of delivering sales, margin and category growth.
- Excellent negotiation and supplier management skills, including experience leading commercial discussions and performance reviews.
- Ability to analyse customer, market and competitor insights to inform ranging, pricing and category decisions.
- Experience developing and executing category strategies aligned to wider business objectives.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with experience working cross-functionally across Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance and Operations.
- Experience leading category projects and delivering key commercial initiatives from concept through to implementation.
£55,000 + competitive benefits package. Hybrid role - 3 days in the office, 2 days from home.
Buyer - Bathrooms in Southampton employer: EA First Compass House
Join one of the UK's leading home improvement retailers, where innovation and sustainability are at the heart of our mission. Our Southampton office fosters a collaborative work culture, offering strong career development opportunities and a flexible hybrid working model that allows you to balance your professional and personal life. As a Buyer for the Bathroom category, you'll have the autonomy to shape product strategies and drive commercial success while working alongside passionate teams dedicated to enhancing customer experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Bathrooms in Southampton
✨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 EA First Compass House, 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 EA First Compass House!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Bathrooms in Southampton
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 EA First Compass House, 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 EA First Compass House 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 EA First Compass House that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at EA First Compass House
✨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!
