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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist in buying women's fashion, develop product ranges, and analyse market trends.
- Company: Join Matalan, a dynamic retail innovator with a focus on teamwork and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% staff discount, wellbeing support, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of fashion retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or fashion retail, strong communication skills, and trend awareness.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values your true self and encourages growth.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
About the Role
As an Assistant Buyer, you\’ll work closely with the Buyer to ensure the department achieves sales, stock and margin targets through the development of the product range, building and maintaining strong working relationships with the supplier base.
Strategy
- Work alongside the Buyer to provide defined reports that will support creation of strategy
- For a defined product range, undertake market and trend research and analysis to create a strategy proposal
- Have an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the Divisional and overall Matalan strategy
Range Development for defined product range
- Work alongside Buyer & Merchandising team to develop shape of the range ensuring alignment with the overall departmental strategy & KPI\’s
- Work alongside Buyer and Designer to interpret the trends and develop commercial ranges within the agreed strategy framework
- Pro-actively bring insight and ideas to support development of wider range
- Present specific ranges in a relevant and impactful way ensuring correct samples are used and all product delivers the agreed margins with support from the Buyer.
- Ensure pricing is well benchmarked and in line with company strategy
- Have full knowledge and understanding of the keyline process
Trading
- Using Monday Trading Reports be able to read and analyse Trade
- Work with the TAB to ensure data and samples are pulled for Trade meetings on time
- Highlight Best & Worst to the buyer alongside newness, problem lines and identifying opportunities alongside creation of a supporting commentary – done as part of weekly Trade and at sign off
- For department, have knowledge of keylines, NOOS lines and event lines
- Work alongside the Merchandising team to ensure the critical path is followed and tracked, flagging any issues or opportunities to the Buyer
- Conduct regular shopping and benchmarking trips highlighting opportunities, price architecture and VM principles
- Following the correct procedure, ensure regular store visits are conducted. Gather relevant feedback to report back to the team
Suppliers
- Pro-actively build and maintain positive and professional working relationships with key suppliers
- Ensure communication with suppliers is relevant, regular and clear
Divisional Support
- Ensure preparation for selections, sign offs and supplier meetings is accurate, organised and completed to a high standard
- Clear understanding of Marketing protocol and needs
- Clear understanding of packaging requirements for defined range
- Deputise for the buyer as and when required
- Build and maintain good relationships with the TAB population, acting as a role model and providing support / mentorship as needed
- Understand and as required, be able to facilitate the running of fit sessions
Please note internally this role is known as Assistant Buyer.
About You
- Experienced within a Trainee or Assistant Buying role, preferably within fashion retail
- Knowledge of key trends and market
- Commercially aware
- Ability to work independently to tight deadlines
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels
- Experience of development and coaching is essential
About Matalan
From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.
We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.
We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don\’t hesitate to let us know.
In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.
Benefits
- 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
- Thrive Recognition Scheme
- Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
- Life Assurance
- Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
- Pension Scheme
- Access to a wide range of career development
- Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business
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Assistant Buyer - Womenswear employer: Matalan
Contact Detail:
Matalan Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Womenswear
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Matalan's values, recent trends in womenswear, and their overall strategy. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions related to buying and merchandising. Think about how you can showcase your experience and knowledge of market trends, as well as your ability to work under pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Matalan family. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Womenswear
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer role. Highlight your experience in fashion retail and any relevant skills that align with the job description. 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 role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your understanding of market trends and your ability to work under tight deadlines.
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills: Since this role involves building relationships with suppliers and team members, make sure to highlight your interpersonal skills. Share examples of how you've successfully communicated and collaborated in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Don’t wait too long – apply today!
How to prepare for a job interview at Matalan
✨Know Your Trends
As an Assistant Buyer, it's crucial to be up-to-date with the latest fashion trends. Before your interview, do some research on current market trends and how they relate to the company's product range. This will show your potential employer that you're proactive and passionate about the role.
✨Master the Numbers
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to buying and merchandising. Be prepared to discuss how you would analyse trading reports and use data to inform your decisions. This demonstrates your analytical skills and understanding of the commercial side of the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves working closely with suppliers and internal teams, think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully built professional relationships. Highlight your interpersonal skills during the interview to show that you can communicate effectively at all levels.
✨Prepare Your Presentation
You may need to present specific ranges during the interview, so practice how you would showcase a product range effectively. Use relevant samples and prepare to explain how your choices align with the company's strategy and margin goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who is ready to hit the ground running.
