At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage buying for trendy pop culture apparel and accessories, from research to range sign-off.
- Company: Fast-growing licensed merchandise business with major retail partners.
- Benefits: Collaborative team environment and opportunity to shape the buying function.
- Other info: Opportunity to manage Print on Demand projects and support a creative team.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and work with exciting entertainment and pop culture licences.
- Qualifications: Proven buying experience in fashion or licensed products, strong commercial judgement required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Our client is a fast-growth licensed pop culture merchandise and clothing wholesale business, supplying major retail partners including Next, Matalan, Amazon and M&S. Due to rapid growth they are now looking to recruit an experienced Buyer / Product Developer to take ownership of offshore buying across newness for the business, working closely with design, suppliers and licensors to bring ranges to life.
This is a hands-on, commercially-led buying role covering apparel and accessories across multiple licences. You'll manage the full product journey from research through to range sign-off, while also overseeing their Print on Demand project and supporting the wider team.
What you'll be doing
- Buying:
- Managing offshore buys across newness for the business
- Researching licences, categories, competitors, marketplaces and pricing to inform product decisions
- Following the master critical path to keep to production lead times and seasonal deadlines
- Planning ranges and identifying appropriate licences and suppliers
- Preparing and delivering briefs to design and suppliers
- Working with design and suppliers to select designs and develop samples
- Providing detailed buying and sampling comments, with feedback logged and communicated clearly
- Building full range plans including CADs, ratios, quantities, estimated costs, RRPs, stock values and RSVs
- Working to a buying budget to ensure ranges make commercial sense
- Using sales data, comparable products and commercial judgement to set quantities
- Presenting ranges for internal sign-off
- Handing over completed range plans for costing and buying sheets
- Reviewing samples across apparel and accessories, feeding back on fit, construction and quality
- Print on Demand:
- Managing the POD project
- Planning the POD calendar annually, forecasting option counts, licences and key ranges
- Selecting and prioritising styles based on sales, seasonality, brand approvals and movie releases
- Managing blank selection, purchasing and replenishment across multiple styles
- Buying and managing UK blanks to extend product availability
- Reviewing and forecasting blank requirements to support warehouse and printers
- Overseeing outsourcing of prints through multiple channels
- Team support:
- Managing and allocating buying-specific workload for Buying Admins
- Feeding workload to both designers
- Supporting the Wholesale team with feedback
- Working closely with Production on all buys
- Supporting Sales Merch with replenishment quantity allocations
- Acting as first point of contact for supplier and licensor queries
What we're looking for
- Proven buying experience, ideally within character licensed product, apparel or fashion wholesale - ideally POD
- Strong commercial judgement and confidence working to a budget
- Comfortable interpreting sales data to drive quantity and range decisions
- Excellent supplier and stakeholder communication
- Highly organised, able to manage multiple ranges and deadlines at once
- Experience briefing design teams and reviewing samples is a strong advantage
What you'll get
- The chance to work across a varied portfolio of major entertainment and pop culture licences
- A fast-growing business with real scope to shape the buying function
- A close-knit, collaborative team environment
BUYER - CHARACTER LICENSE - FASHION & ACCESSORIES employer: House Of Fashion Associates
Join a dynamic and fast-growing licensed pop culture merchandise business in Staffordshire, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the buying function while working with major retail partners. Our collaborative team culture fosters creativity and innovation, providing you with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Enjoy a hands-on role that allows you to manage exciting product ranges and contribute to a thriving Print on Demand project, all within a supportive and engaging work environment.
Contact Details:
House Of Fashion Associates Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land BUYER - CHARACTER LICENSE - FASHION & ACCESSORIES
✨Get Down to the Fashion Events
Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like House Of Fashion Associates!
✨Join Fashion-Focused Communities
Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including House Of Fashion Associates.
✨Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio
Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for House Of Fashion Associates.
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at House Of Fashion Associates!
We think you need these skills to ace BUYER - CHARACTER LICENSE - FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!
Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at House Of Fashion Associates.
Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to House Of Fashion Associates!
Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at House Of Fashion Associates. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at House Of Fashion Associates
✨Showcase Your Style Portfolio
For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!
✨Know the Latest Trends and Brands
Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills
In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Dress the Part
This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!
