At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic product buying and create compelling assortments for lululemon's diverse channels.
- Company: Join lululemon, a leader in innovative performance apparel with a focus on inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health benefits, generous discounts, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on collaboration and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic environment while fostering connections and creativity.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in retail buying, strong analytical skills, and a passion for style.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
This job is with lululemon, an inclusive employer and a member of my Gwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.
Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
Description & Requirements who we are lululemon is an innovative performance apparel company for yoga, running, training, and other athletic pursuits.
Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional design, we create transformational products and experiences that support people in moving, growing, connecting, and being well.
We owe our success to our innovative product, emphasis on stores, commitment to our people, and the incredible connections we make in every community we're in.
As a company, we focus on creating positive change to build a healthier, thriving future.
In particular, that includes creating an equitable, inclusive and growth-focused environment for our people.
about this team
Reporting to the Buying Manager, our Senior Buyer is responsible for the assortment, execution, and depth of the buy of their specific product category across all channels.
The Senior Buyer is responsible for leading the strategic assortment planning, determining locally relevant assortments and being a competitive market expert for their particular region.
This person will lead effective partnerships with Planning, In Season Country teams, Visual Merchandising, Digital, Brand and Community, and Retail Operations to deliver "right product, right stores, right time." The Senior Buyer is responsible for the development of other members of the regional buying team and creating strong relationships with our North American counterparts.
- core responsibilities
- You contribute to the financial success of the region by meeting and exceeding sales, gross margin and inventory productivity goals through all channels (stores, ecommerce, strategic sales, & showrooms), through the effective partnership with Planning team.
- You are a "market expert" in your product category and region for all channels and can effectively communicate key data points, including merchandising strategies, athletic and fashion trends, pricing and competition that inform the global product strategy
- Using the preliminary Global Assortment, create a compelling, locally relevant product assortment for the region's store clusters
- You proactively gather, analyse and drive insight from local market knowledge and competitive landscape across all channels
- You lead the quarterly product reviews ("meltdown") for your product category, delivering on timely, measureable, and actionable feedback
- You act as the primary point of contact for product feedback from your region's product category
- You formulate and define local pricing strategies
- You lead the in-season management of your product category, through sales analysis, flow management, product education, chase, cancellations, markdowns and exit
- You train, support, and develop our Buyers and Assistant Buyers.
qualifications
- 8+ years' experience in retail in a merchant or buying role
- Bachelor's degree qualified (Business, commerce preferred)
- Vertical retail and omni channel experience highly desirable
- Mastery of retail mathematics and Open to Buy
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret multiple data points across numerous channels and market segments
- Proven ability to work with and lead a cross functional team
- Excellent sense of style and color trends; athletically minded
- Excellent communication skills - interpersonal, written and verbal
- Entrepreneurship - an ability to make decisions and take calculated risks
- Focus on creating an extraordinary guest experience, organizational and time management skills
- Strong knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Self-awareness, with a desire for constant self-improvement (goal -oriented)
- Willingness to travel and work on the retail floor must haves
- Acknowledge the presence of choice in every moment and take personal responsibility.
- Possess an entrepreneurial spirit and continuously innovate to achieve great results.
- Communicate with honesty and kindness and create the space for others to do the same.
- Lead with courage, knowing the possibility of greatness is bigger than the fear of failure.
- Foster connection by putting people first and building trusting relationships.
- Integrate fun and joy as a way of being and working additional notes
Authorization to work in UK is required for this role.
compensation and benefits package lululemon's compensation offerings are grounded in a pay-for-performance philosophy that recognizes exceptional individual and team performance.
The base pay offered is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity.
As part of our total rewards offering, permanent employees in this position may be eligible for our competitive annual bonus program and equity offerings, subject to program eligibility requirements.
At lululemon, investing in our people is a top priority.
We believe that when life works, work works.
We strive to be the place where inclusive leaders come to develop and enable all to be well.
Recognizing our teams for their performance and dedication, other components of our total rewards offerings include support of career development, wellbeing, and personal growth:
- Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans
- Paid time off
- Savings and retirement plan matching
- Generous employee discount
- Fitness & yoga classes
- Parenthood top-up
- Extensive catalog of development course offerings
- People networks, mentorship programs, and leadership series (to name a few)
Note: The incentive programs, benefits, and perks have certain eligibility requirements.
The Company reserves the right to alter these incentive programs, benefits, and perks in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
- workplace arrangement
- Hybrid
In-person collaboration and connection is important to our culture. Work is performed onsite, minimum 4 days per week.
Senior Buyer in London employer: LULULEMON
At lululemon, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer in Greater London, where our vibrant work culture fosters inclusivity and teamwork. We offer competitive pay alongside comprehensive health plans, generous employee discounts, and robust personal development programs, ensuring that our Store Leaders not only excel in their roles but also grow personally and professionally. Join us to be part of a community that values your contributions and elevates the guest experience every day.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer in London
✨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 LULULEMON, 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 LULULEMON!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer in London
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 LULULEMON, 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 LULULEMON 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 LULULEMON that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at LULULEMON
✨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!
