At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the buying strategy for Food & Drink, collaborating with teams to drive sales and market share.
- Company: Fenwick, a historic family-owned department store group in the UK.
- Benefits: 33 days annual leave, birthday off, up to 25% discount, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make an impact in a fast-paced buying environment.
- Qualifications: Intermediate buying experience, strong analytical skills, and a passion for food and drink.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ 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 in Sunderland employer: Fenwick
Fenwick is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that fosters innovation and growth. As an Assistant Buyer in our Newcastle Flagship store, you will enjoy generous benefits including 33 days of annual leave, a unique buying holiday scheme, and a significant employee discount, all while working in a supportive environment that values your contributions and encourages professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer in Sunderland
✨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 Fenwick, 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 Fenwick!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer in Sunderland
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 Fenwick, 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 Fenwick 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 Fenwick that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fenwick
✨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!
