At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to drive retail strategy in grocery, gifting, and seasonal categories.
- Company: Quest Search & Selection, a dynamic player in the retail industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy life assurance, discounts, hybrid work, free parking, and learning support.
- Other info: Flexible travel opportunities and excellent career growth await you.
- Why this job: Make an impact by shaping product ranges and driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or category roles with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Quest Search & Selection are currently supporting the category management team in delivering retail strategy for grocery, gifting & seasonal. In this role you will be involved in range planning, planograms, promotions, pricing and stock forecasting. You will build strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure stock availability, using data analysis to inform category decisions, tenders, and trading terms.
Key Responsibilities
- Supports retail growth strategy, partnering with Finance teams to manage sales, margin, and KPI delivery.
- Analyses data and market trends to inform category direction, range selection, and stock forecasting.
- Maintains product data, costs files, and implements planograms across categories.
- Leads end-to-end development of bespoke products, ensuring quality, margin, and timely delivery.
- Develops and executes promotional and seasonal strategies, including POS and digital activity.
- Drives commercial performance through trading analysis, forecasting, and stock optimisation.
- Supports store layout, space planning, and effective communication of range and promotions.
- Manages supplier relationships, tenders, and day-to-day coordination on range, delivery, and merchandising.
- Gathers customer insights to inform category improvements.
Key Requirements
- Working as a Buyer, Senior Assistant or Junior level at a Buying, Category or NPD role.
- Ideally worked in different categories within non-food or grocery.
- Experience in new product development, concept creation, and design.
- Skilled in range architecture, planogram development, and space planning/analysis would be ideal.
- Proven supplier management and buying experience.
- Good commercial awareness, including understanding of P&L, sales, and margin drivers.
- Flexible to travel to different sites 1-2 times a month (car & driving license is highly desirable).
- Able to balance customer, operational, and commercial priorities when developing strategies.
Benefits
- Life assurance.
- 20% friends and family discount.
- Hybrid (50% on average office based).
- Free parking.
- Learning and development support.
Buyer (Grocery, Gifting & Seasonal) in England employer: Quest Search and Selection Ltd
Contact Detail:
Quest Search and Selection Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer (Grocery, Gifting & Seasonal) in England
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or recruiters, make sure to highlight your experience with data analysis and supplier management. Share specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance in past roles – it’ll make you stand out!
✨Be Ready for Interviews
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of market trends and category management. Think about how you can apply your skills in range planning and stock forecasting to their business. Confidence is key!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for the latest job openings! Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also gives you a better chance of being noticed. Let’s land that dream job together!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer (Grocery, Gifting & Seasonal) in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Buyer role. Highlight your experience in range planning, supplier management, and data analysis to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about grocery, gifting, and seasonal buying. Share specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance in previous roles.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since data analysis is key for this role, don’t forget to mention any tools or methods you’ve used to inform category decisions. We love seeing how you’ve used data to make an impact!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Quest Search and Selection Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Buyer, you'll need to be comfortable with data analysis. Brush up on your understanding of sales, margin, and KPI metrics. Be ready to discuss how you've used data in past roles to inform category decisions or stock forecasting.
✨Showcase Your Supplier Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've built strong relationships with suppliers. Think about specific instances where you successfully negotiated terms or resolved issues. This will demonstrate your ability to manage supplier relationships effectively.
✨Understand the Market Trends
Research current trends in grocery, gifting, and seasonal products. Be prepared to discuss how these trends could influence range planning and promotional strategies. Showing that you're in tune with the market will impress your interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Your Flexibility
Since the role requires occasional travel, be ready to talk about your flexibility and willingness to adapt. Share experiences where you've successfully balanced multiple priorities or adapted to changing circumstances in your previous roles.