At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead an FMCG category, ensuring success through planning, budgeting, and negotiating.
- Company: Join a dynamic retail team at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, car allowance, and exclusive store discounts.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product ranges that customers love.
- Qualifications: Experienced Buyer with strong negotiation skills and retail background.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the role... We are recruiting for a Buyer to lead a category within our retail FMCG buying team. Based at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall, you will work on a hybrid working model, 3 days a week in the office. You'll take the lead on your assigned FMCG category, ensuring its success through effective planning, budgeting and negotiating. Taking an essential role in our product journey, without you, our customers wouldn't be able to shop the ranges they love.
Why choose us?
- Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
- Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
- Car Allowance: Enjoy the advantage of a car allowance, allowing you to choose your own vehicle while reducing commuting costs.
- Free On-Site Parking: Enjoy the convenience of free parking, making your daily commute hassle-free.
- Onsite Coffee Lounge: Take advantage of our onsite coffee lounge, a perfect space to relax and recharge during breaks.
- Exclusive Store Discounts: Receive a 10% discount on most in-store purchases, enhancing your shopping experience.
- Family-Friendly Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits are designed to support your and your family's needs.
- My Staff Shop: Gain exclusive discounts through our 'My Staff Shop' portal, saving on various products and services.
- Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family's future.
- Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
- Holiday Allowance: Start with a leave entitlement of 33 days per year, with the option to buy additional holidays annually. Celebrate your special day off work every year with an extra day of holiday because we believe birthdays are important.
- Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.
Your Impact and Responsibilities… You'll be accountable for maximising the success of your FMCG category performance, along with the Senior Buyer. Seeking out opportunities or threats, resolving issues and making recommendations for action by working closely with the broader category team. Identifying, creating, and developing new range opportunities, taking the lead on constructing a robust and successful plan. Understanding and interpreting key customer insights and data to identify and react to market trends and shopping habits. Visiting suppliers and their factories to develop ranges, negotiate the cost of goods, and explore new opportunities. Be accountable for the development of category strategies, including research and analysis (spend analysis, cost benchmarking, etc).
Skills and Knowledge… For this role we need someone who is an experienced Buyer from a Retail background, is an expert negotiator, builds great working relationships and knows their way around a spreadsheet. Along with:
- Keeps one step ahead of the market, through calculated risks.
- Experience of delivering strategies and plans with associated targets, KPIs and performance monitoring, along with reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
- Comfortable with being agile to changing priorities.
- Strong understanding of the sector and competitor.
- Thorough understanding of the Supply Chain Process.
Buyer - FMCG employer: Poundland
Join our dynamic team as a Buyer in the FMCG sector at our Customer Support Centre in Walsall, where we prioritise professional development and offer a hybrid working model for a balanced work-life experience. Enjoy a range of benefits including a competitive bonus structure, exclusive store discounts, and a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme, all within a supportive and collaborative work culture that values your contributions and encourages growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - FMCG
✨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 Poundland, 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 Poundland!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - FMCG
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 Poundland, 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 Poundland 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 Poundland that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Poundland
✨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!
