Assistant Buyer (Maternity Cover)

Assistant Fashion Buyer – Accessories (Maternity Cover)

The Company:

We are a founder led and owned British heritage leather goods and accessories brand. Born 45 years ago we have been designers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and like our products, we hope we get better with age! Our creative and operational home is based in our converted stables in beautiful Hertfordshire parkland

The role:

Working as part of a small, task-led Buying and Development team, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing a heavy workload and working to a strict timetable. You'll be a team player, comfortable balancing multiple priorities and ensuring tasks are completed accurately and on time.

Where:

Based at our stables in Great Gaddesden.

When:

Monday - Friday 37.5 hours per week (office based). Maternity cover.

With:

Working alongside a Senior Buyer and another Assistant Buyer, you will also interface closely with the Creative Director and CEO.

Your character and skills will include:

• Experience in fashion buying and product development with a strong understanding of critical paths
• Able to work collaboratively, developing strong relationships with internal colleagues and external suppliers.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to liaise confidently across multilevel roles internally and externally, with Directors, suppliers and colleagues.
• Demonstrates initiative with a proactive approach to providing dynamic solutions. Confident to communicate issues or queries across all management.
• Strong planning and organisational skills, focused on deadlines and committed to the completion of each task, with the flexibility to work outside normal hours when required.
• Strong questioning, listening and analytical skills, to clarify understanding.
• Demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and accuracy when working with product development and processing.
• Strong IT skills, particularly using Microsoft Excel. Prior experience working with stock management systems (such as Netsuite) and Business Intelligence tools would be beneficial.
• Resilience, remaining task focused and calm.

Responsibilities will include:

Buying and Product Development:

• Support the Senior Buyer/ Directors throughout the product development and range review process, including samples, product information, approvals and launch deadlines.
• Monitor seasonal critical path reports, product development reports, individual product critical paths and future collection schedules, ensuring all deadlines are accurately tracked.
• Attend collection review and planning meetings.
• Liaise with suppliers on product development, orders, samples, deliveries and queries, escalating issues to the Senior Buyer/ Directors where appropriate.
• Process purchase orders and ensure product, pricing, quantities and delivery information are accurate and approved within agreed timescales.
• Monitor and action all samples and gold seal.

Competitor and Commercial Analysis:

• Conduct competitor analysis and ensure understanding of market trends and commercial price pointing.

Analysis and Planning:

• Support the Senior Buyer/ Directors with cost, pricing, and margin analysis, ensuring an understanding of commercial performance and competitor positioning.
• Develop a strong understanding of the customer, brand positioning and luxury accessories market to support commercially relevant buying decisions.
• Maintain and update all product records and price changes.
• Using Business Intelligence tools, regularly monitor sales performance, identifying trends and opportunities to recommend areas for improvement across the categories.
• Housekeeping and other duties:
• Liaise with the Merchandising and Marketing teams on new product lines, facilitating product information and product availability for photo shoots.
• Deliver product presentations and update sessions for the Customer Service team, giving them details of all new product ranges.
• Ensure showroom meets high standards of display for visitors.
• Update images and input relevant data for the weekly Marketing report.
• Other ad hoc duties as and when required.