At a Glance
- Tasks: Support buying and merchandising for home textiles and furniture, ensuring product excellence.
- Company: Join N Brown, a leading UK digital retail platform known for inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and a vibrant office in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a diverse team shaping the future of retail and personal expression.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail or a relevant degree; passion for fashion and home trends is key.
The predicted salary is between 24300 - 29700 £ per year.
N Brown - Who We Are and Why Work for Us
N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester.
Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo, and Simply Be, and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved.
Our customers are our passion, and we take great pride in delivering products that ensure they can look and feel amazing, without compromising on choice, value, and accessibility.
We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all.
Our vision is that by championing inclusion, N Brown will become the UK's most loved and trusted consumer platform, shaping the future of personal expression and financial empowerment.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.
In May 2024, we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone, and we are so proud to have made this list-as voted for by our very own colleagues!
The roles - Home Textiles & Furniture and Decor
We're currently hiring two roles within our Home & Tech team, with opportunities across Home Textiles and Furniture & Decor.
As a Category Assistant, you will bridge the buying and merchandising functions, taking ownership of commercial administration, range support, trading analysis, and supply chain management under the guidance of the Senior Category Manager or Category Manager.
- Buying & Range Development
- Range
Ownership: Take ownership of select ranges under the guidance of the Senior Category Manager or Category Manager, developing commercial customer-centric ranges with the right price architecture and quality standards.
- Range Planning: Assist in range planning and range building across assigned product lines.
- Buying Administration: Perform end-to-end buying administration, keeping product information, systems, and databases fully up to date.
- Site Operations: Conduct regular website checks to spot and fix product set-up issues, ensuring products go live quickly and accurately.
- Commercial Performance: Support the delivery of departmental margin targets.
- Merchandising & Trading
- Trading Reviews: Prepare, present, and contribute to weekly trading meetings, reviewing departmental sales performance, best and worst sellers, and trended forecast estimates.
- Product Management: Identify daily and weekly trading issues, presenting corrective action plans to maintain sales demand to plan.
- Promotional planning: Build & manage a robust trading plan, working with supply base to secure SOA funding and ensure a strong promotional offer in line with key events.
Manage end to end SOA funding process.
- Forecasting & Estimating: Estimate season sales forecasts at line level where required
- Market Benchmarking: Conduct competitive shopping, market analysis, and historical sales reviews to support future range plans.
- Supplier & Stakeholder Management
- Supplier Relations: Regularly communicate and meet with supply base in order to build and maintain strong relationships, discuss trade and identify range opportunities.
- Critical Path: Challenge and elevate critical path delays or missed dates to safeguard product launch availability.
- Logistics Coordination: Pre-empt logistics issues through regular communication with suppliers, central service operations, warehouses, and partnership teams.
- Team Support: Support the day-to-day development and motivation of Administrative Assistants.
- What You Will Need to Succeed
- Commercial Experience: Prior experience within a buying, merchandising, or similar commercial retail environment is essential.
- Education & Background: A relevant degree (e. g., fashion, business, or retail) or equivalent experience demonstrated through work.
- Core Skills: Excellent administrative, organizational, numerical, and communication skills.
- Mindset & Passion: Driven, customer-first mindset with a keen interest in fashion, home, and digital retail trends.
- AI Readiness: Open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to drive operational efficiency, insights, and impact.
- Ways of Working
We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you're in.
Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre.
So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we're perfectly located, plus we're surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!
Our working hours are 36.17 per week over 5 days.
We believe AI will become a standard part of modern professional practice.
We are therefore looking for individuals who are open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to improve efficiency, insight, and impact in their role.
Our promise to you
We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity.
We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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Category Manager Assistants - Home Textiles And Furniture & Decor in Manchester employer: N Brown
N Brown Group is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Manchester where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide comprehensive benefits and hybrid working options, ensuring our team members can thrive both personally and professionally while contributing to cutting-edge cloud security initiatives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager Assistants - Home Textiles And Furniture & Decor in Manchester
✨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 N Brown, 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 N Brown!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager Assistants - Home Textiles And Furniture & Decor in Manchester
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 N Brown, 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 N Brown 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 N Brown that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at N Brown
✨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!
