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- Tasks: Join our team to develop and implement exciting food and drink buying strategies.
- Company: Fenwick, a historic family-owned department store with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, birthday off, up to 25% discount, and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while working with premium products.
- Qualifications: Intermediate buying experience and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in retail.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Are you looking for a new challenge in a buying role? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Home, Food & Wine buying team as Assistant Buyer for the Food & Drink category! We offer hybrid working between your home and our functional hub offices in our Newcastle Flagship store, offering a collaborative and innovative working space.
When you join Fenwick, you’ll receive:
- 33 days annual leave (inclusive of 8 bank holidays) and a buying holiday benefits scheme in which you are eligible to buy a further 5 days across the year.
- Your birthday off as an additional day annual leave – this can be taken any day within your birth month.
- Up to 25% discount in all Fenwick stores and fenwick.co.uk.
- WeCare - 24/7 GP, wellbeing advice & support service.
- Hybrid Working (typically Thursday and Friday working from home).
About the Role
The Assistant Buyer plays a key role in delivering the buying strategy for the Food & Drink category across Fenwick’s stores and online. Working closely with the Buyer and wider Buying & Merchandising teams, the role supports the development and implementation of commercially sound range plans that reflect the Fenwick brand, respond to market trends and meet the needs of local customers, with a clear focus on driving sales, margin and market share.
The role is involved across the end-to-end buying process, including sourcing and developing food and drink ranges, supporting supplier negotiations, analysing trading performance and managing stock and OTB effectively. Through detailed trade analysis and strong attention to data, the Assistant Buyer helps identify opportunities for growth, improve efficiencies and reduce markdown risk, while ensuring ranges remain current, balanced and customer-focused.
Collaboration is central to the role, working closely with Retail, Digital, Marketing, Logistics and support functions to deliver seasonal strategies, product launches and promotional activity across the Food & Drink category. This role suits someone with buying experience in a multichannel retail environment, strong commercial awareness and analytical skills, and the confidence to build supplier relationships, contribute ideas and support continuous improvement within a fast-paced buying team.
What we are looking for in a candidate...
- Intermediate level experience in buying, and sales.
- A keen interest in food, drink and premium gifting products.
- Experience in developing product strategies and building business cases.
- Analytical with a keen ability to identify opportunities for efficiency and improvement.
- Negotiating and contracting skills.
- Intermediate communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
- Experience within a retail multichannel environment.
About Fenwick
Fenwick is rich with heritage and history and have been style pioneers since 1882 when our first store opened. We know luxury and are proud to remain the largest independent, family-owned group of department stores within the UK. We are on an exciting journey to exceed our customers' expectations and we are always on the lookout for new talent to join us.
Our collaborative spirit unites a workforce of over 2,000 individuals across our stores, as well as in our support functions, encompassing Digital, Buying & Merchandising, IT, Finance, People, Customer Service teams, and our cherished restaurants and distribution centres. In 2023 we launched our ‘Quiet No More’ campaign, enhancing our presence on the UK high street as well as our eCommerce website going from strength to strength. Together, we form the beating heart of Fenwick, driving forward our vision for excellence and innovation. Join us as we pave the way toward an even brighter tomorrow, where tradition meets transformation!
Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink employer: Fenwick
Contact Detail:
Fenwick Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 products. Familiarise yourself with Fenwick's Food & Drink category and think about how your experience aligns with their buying strategy. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As an Assistant Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to build supplier relationships. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence before the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Fenwick team. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Food & Drink
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your buying experience, especially in food and drink, and any analytical skills you have. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the Food & Drink category and how your background aligns with our needs. Be sure to mention any relevant achievements that demonstrate your commercial awareness.
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since the role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to showcase your analytical abilities in your application. Mention specific examples where you've identified opportunities for growth or improved efficiencies in previous roles.
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 shows you’re keen on joining the Fenwick family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fenwick
✨Know Your Products
Before the interview, dive deep into the Food & Drink category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular products, and what makes them appealing to customers. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to drive decisions. Bring examples of how you've identified opportunities for growth or improved efficiencies. This will demonstrate your analytical mindset, which is crucial for the Assistant Buyer position.
✨Practice Your Negotiation Techniques
Since supplier negotiations are a key part of the role, think of scenarios where you've successfully negotiated terms or contracts. Be ready to share these experiences and highlight your approach to building strong supplier relationships.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
The role requires working closely with various teams. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated in past roles, particularly in a multichannel retail environment. Highlight any successful projects that involved teamwork, as this will resonate well with the collaborative spirit at Fenwick.