At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage the buying process for Baby & Childrenswear, driving performance and making impactful decisions.
- Company: Join Poundland & Dealz, a vibrant team at Pep&Co in Watford.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, employee discounts, and flexible hybrid working.
- Other info: We prioritise wellbeing and offer training to help you advance your career.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in retail buying with hands-on experience and growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in clothing retail and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 20790 - 25410 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Junior Buyer: Clothing - Baby & Childrenswear to join our talented team here at Poundland & Dealz, aligned to our clothing brand Pep&Co.
Based at our Pep&Co hub in Watford, this is a fantastic opportunity to develop and expand your buying expertise in a fast-paced, hands-on environment where your decisions make a difference every day to our customers.
The role offers some flexibility for hybrid working.
As a Junior Buyer with us, you’ll be aligned to our Baby & Childrenswear clothing team and will be accountable for buying a category within Baby & Childrenswear, taking the lead and driving the performance on your ranges, with the support and guidance of our Buyer/Senior Buyer - ensuring the right items land in store at the right time and at the right price.
You’ll manage everything from supplier negotiations and sales analysis to range planning and sample management, all while learning what it takes to take full ownership of a product category.
As Junior Buyer – Baby & Childrenswear, you will
We are looking for someone with
We offer rewards that go beyond the payslip, including
Bring your energy, teamwork, and get stuck in approach — and we’ll help you build your career with us!
We’re committed and proud to our inclusive culture, and that starts with the recruitment and selection process.
If you require a reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process, please do share this with us on your application form and we’ll make every effort to meet your needs.
- Support and manage the full buying process across your category
- Monitor sales performance and use insights to drive decisions
- Develop strategy for your department demonstrating big product and customer opportunities for your department to deliver financial targets.
- Present strategy to senior management for sign-off
- Review of product development samples to ensure product is correct to design, quality and price objectives.
- Work with design & merchandising teams to build ranges which protect the core, offer choice & newness whilst delivering sales & profit.
- Negotiates prices with Suppliers and factories to deliver margin targets.
- Ongoing review of range decisions reacting to growing or declining trend to ensure the range is relevant.
- Ensure all stakeholders adhere to the critical path to achieve launch targets.
- Work closely with design to agree trends using trend, supplier and shopping information
- Comp shop competition and review SWOT analysis to support planning of ranges
- Previous experience in as a Senior Assistant Buyer or Junior Buyer role in a clothing retail environment.
- Previous experience of Baby & Childrenswear category buying and strong working knowledge of legislation and industry requirements within this category.
- Commercial awareness and a passion for bringing the right items to market for your customer.
- Strong Excel and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
- Ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced retail environment.
- 10% employee discount card with increased discount events over the year.
- Celebrate your birthday, you’ll get an extra day off for your birthday.
- 28 days holiday a year inc banks, rising by one day a year up to 33 days.
- Annual bonus scheme, with the opportunity to earn up to 10% of your base salary.
- Free parking onsite.
We put wellbeing first through our partnership with Retail Trust which gives you and your family access to a fantastic range of resources.
- My Staff Shop, giving you an amazing number of discounts and shopping vouchers.
- For those unexpected moments, our partnership with stream enables you to access up to 50% of your monthly earned wages early, along with savings and financial advice.
- Training and development opportunities, we want you to grow your career with us, be that through one of the qualifications we offer or internal programmes, this role can be just the first step.
- Plus, life assurance, loyalty service awards and people's pension
Junior Buyer - Retail Clothing- Baby & Childrenswear in Watford employer: Poundland
At Poundland & Dealz, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters teamwork and personal growth. Located in Watford, our Pep&Co hub provides a dynamic environment where Junior Buyers can thrive, with opportunities for hybrid working, comprehensive training, and a range of employee benefits including generous holiday allowances and discounts. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the Baby & Childrenswear category while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that prioritises your wellbeing and career development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Buyer - Retail Clothing- Baby & Childrenswear in Watford
✨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 Junior Buyer - Retail Clothing- Baby & Childrenswear in Watford
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!
