At a Glance
- Tasks: Source and select exciting beauty products while driving sales and margin growth.
- Company: Join QVC Group, a Fortune 500 leader in live social shopping.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, paid time off, discounts, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Hybrid role with opportunities for international travel and career growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of beauty retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or merchandising with strong analytical and negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
Working at QVC Group means joining a live social shopping company with incredible teams, ambitious projects and amazing careers. QVC Group, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company with six leading retail brands - QVC®, HSN®, Ballard Designs®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill® and Grandin Road.
Your Opportunity, Your Team
We have a Permanent Junior Buyer position and a 12 Month Maternity Cover Junior Buyer position available within our Beauty department. The Junior Buyer supports QVC International, and helps source, build and trade a compelling product range that drives sales and margin growth across an omni-channel retail environment.
Where You'll Work
This role is hybrid and will require you to be onsite at Chiswick Park, West London two days a week. Please note: this role may require international travel for business, including trade shows, supplier visits and visits to QVC international offices.
What You'll Do
- Source, select and secure a clearly positioned and differentiated product portfolio within a defined category, aligned to brand strategy, target customer and commercial goals.
- Negotiate cost prices and trading terms with suppliers to deliver strong sales, margin and overall net profit contribution.
- Partner closely with Planning, Category Merchandising, Digital and other cross-functional teams to review performance, optimise range plans and support omni-channel campaigns.
- Build and manage strong supplier relationships, including regular performance reviews, development of new concepts and support for long-term brand plans.
- Support pricing, inventory and critical path management, ensuring product launches, campaigns, TSVs, events and key lines are delivered accurately and on time.
- Review product performance, market conditions and competitor activity to identify opportunities for growth and keep the range fresh, relevant and exciting for customers.
- Evaluate and develop the vendor portfolio, including trade fair attendance, supplier meetings and sourcing decisions.
- Support short and long-term product and brand strategies in line with wider divisional objectives.
- Work with internal and international stakeholders to communicate product stories, unique selling points and campaign priorities.
- Ensure buying activity complies with anti-trust, compliance and legal claim processes, as well as internal policies and external regulations.
What You'll Bring
- Experience in a buying, junior buying or comparable merchandising role, ideally within retail, trading or a product-led commercial environment.
- Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret key trading metrics and make sound commercial decisions.
- Confident negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Good product and market knowledge, with initial trading experience in a relevant product category.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- A proactive, flexible and solutions-focused approach, with sound judgement and the ability to work under pressure.
- Willingness to travel internationally as required.
Junior Buyer Beauty in London employer: QVC UK
QVC Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant work culture, offering employees the chance to thrive in a dynamic retail environment. With a strong commitment to employee growth, competitive benefits including generous paid time off and parental leave, and a focus on inclusion and belonging, working at our Chiswick Park location provides a unique opportunity to be part of a Fortune 500 company that values innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Buyer Beauty in London
✨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 QVC UK, 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 QVC UK!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Buyer Beauty in London
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 QVC UK, 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 QVC UK 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 QVC UK that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at QVC UK
✨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!
