At a Glance
- Tasks: Assist in developing product ranges and analysing market trends to drive sales.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Matalan, a leading retailer in footwear and accessories.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, career growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Other info: Opportunity to build relationships with suppliers and gain valuable industry insights.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team shaping the future of fashion and retail.
- Qualifications: Passion for fashion, strong analytical skills, and teamwork experience.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ 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
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Footwear & Accessories in Knowsley
✨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 Matalan, 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 Matalan!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Footwear & Accessories in Knowsley
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 Matalan, 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 Matalan 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 Matalan that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Matalan
✨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!
