At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to drive brand success and develop innovative product offerings.
- Company: Join NEXT, a leading fashion retailer with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, flexible hours, and fantastic learning opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive environment that values diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion industry while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in buying, strong leadership, and a passion for fashion.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Buying Manager – NEXT Wholly Owned Brands
As Buying Manager, you will support the Buying Director in driving the creative and commercial direction of the brand across multiple categories.
You will lead a high‑performing team to develop a superb product offering that drives the overall profitability of the brand.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Commercial Performance
- Drive commercial performance by developing and delivering short‑ and long‑term brand objectives focused on profit, margin, and growth.
- Maximise profitability through strategic decisions on product direction, category innovation, pricing, sourcing and intake.
- Demonstrate high‑level strategic awareness, understanding how departmental decisions impact different channels and overall company objectives.
- Challenge and improve existing processes, contributing innovative ideas to evolve buying strategies and streamline operations.
- Range Planning & Product Development
- Oversee the planning and structure of the range in collaboration with Merchandising and Design, ensuring a balanced, customer‑focused offer.
- Incorporate global fashion trends, market dynamics, and customer insights into commercially viable and trend‑led collections.
- Monitor and react to performance by reviewing sales and product data to identify opportunities for repeats, cancellations, or future optimisations.
- Identify & implement new product categories that could enhance the brand’s current range and offer.
- Supplier & Stakeholder Management
- Oversee the sourcing and management of suppliers, assessing capability, supporting buying with supplier issues & finding solutions.
- Lead buyers to strategically plan production & fabric booking to optimise cost prices & lead times.
- Manage buyers to ensure ethical, timely, and quality production while maintaining existing relationships and encouraging new partnerships.
- Build strong cross‑functional relationships with Marketing, PR, Creative & Technical teams to align commercial and creative goals.
- Collaborate across the wider business to share insights on trends and competitor behaviour to influence broader strategy.
- Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the buying team by managing workloads, delegating effectively, and setting clear objectives.
- Conduct regular performance reviews to drive capability, engagement, and accountability within the team.
- Mentor and motivate others, identifying and nurturing talent while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- Experienced Buying Manager with experience in a similar fashion retailer
- Multi‑category womenswear experience
- Strategic, commercial, and innovative thinker
- Deep knowledge of fashion trends and market dynamics
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
- Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing abilities
- Leadership skills to motivate and develop teams
- Adaptable, organised, and results‑driven with a focus on growth and margin improvement
Benefits
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (when purchased through NEXT)
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Hot deals and exclusive offers from over 3,500 retailers through our online benefits platform
- Company performance‑based bonus
- Early VIP access to sale stock via Direct to Desk
- Life assurance
- Sharesave scheme
- Annual Travel Card Loan
- Sample Sales
- Fantastic L&D opportunities
- Flexi‑Hour Scheme
- Direct to Work – Discount online and in‑store, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks – Access to network groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub – Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary.
Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long‑term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email careers@lipsy. co. uk (please include “Workplace Adjustments” in the subject line) or call us on 0207 436 2000 and leave a voicemail.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying Manager 12 month FTC (Friends Like These)
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Manager 12 month FTC (Friends Like These)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to NEXT Wholly Owned Brands:Don’t forget to personalise your application for NEXT Wholly Owned Brands! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at NEXT Wholly Owned Brands
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that NEXT Wholly Owned Brands offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at NEXT Wholly Owned Brands and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
