At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Buyer in delivering sales and margin targets for imaginative play and games.
- Company: Join a leading retailer with a commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic team while developing your buying skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or related fields, with strong organisational skills.
The predicted salary is between 24750 - 30250 £ per year.
As an Assistant Buyer, you will support the Buyer and Senior Buyer in delivering category sales, margin and supplier-funding targets. You will take ownership of an allocated subcategory from end to end, contributing to product selection, range strategy, pricing and promotional planning while maintaining accurate product and trading information across our channels.
Day to day, you will review performance and competitor activity, build productive supplier relationships, support negotiations and develop compelling promotional plans. You will work to critical-path milestones with Merchandising, Product Development, Global Sourcing, Digital and Marketing colleagues to deliver accurate, compliant and customer-focused ranges and launches. The exact product area will be confirmed based on business needs when the successful candidate joins.
You will bring practical buying experience and be comfortable working with branded suppliers, commercial terms and supplier funding. You can use sales, margin, customer and competitor information to form clear recommendations, and you understand how range, price, promotion and product placement influence commercial performance. You will be organised and accurate, able to manage multiple milestones and keep stakeholders informed in a fast-moving environment.
Strong working relationships matter in this role, as you will collaborate across several functions and balance customer, commercial, quality and compliance requirements. Experience in Toys is welcome but not essential where you can demonstrate transferable buying capability.
- Experience supporting or delivering buying activity, including range selection, pricing, promotions or trading decisions
- Experience working with branded suppliers, including commercial terms, negotiation or supplier funding
- Evidence of using sales, margin, market, customer or competitor data to make commercial recommendations
- Experience managing multiple deadlines and maintaining accurate product, promotional or supplier information through a critical path
Our Toys Buying teams bring together commercial thinking, customer insight and a passion for product to create ranges customers love. Within Imaginative Play and Games, you could work across areas such as dolls, games, pushchairs and prams, partnering with well-known branded suppliers as well as supporting selected own-brand development. It is a close, collaborative team split across London and Ansty, working with colleagues throughout Commercial, Digital, Marketing, Product Development and Global Sourcing.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you'll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there's always the chance to try something new - whether that's as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and where possible, offer flexible working.
When you join our team, we'll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them:
- Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury's every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day.
- We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover.
- You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 5% of salary, depending on how we perform.
- Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday.
- We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers.
- And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.
- Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks' pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks' pay for paternity leave.
Assistant Buyer - Imaginative Play & Games (8 month FTC) in Exhall employer: Sainsbury’s Group
Join our Argos Local Fulfilment Centre as a Warehouse Operative and become part of a dynamic, 24-hour team dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service. With a strong focus on inclusivity and employee growth, we offer a supportive work environment where you can thrive, alongside generous benefits such as colleague discounts, wellbeing support, and opportunities for career progression. Experience the camaraderie of a family-like atmosphere while making a tangible impact on our customers' experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Imaginative Play & Games (8 month FTC) in Exhall
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Imaginative Play & Games (8 month FTC) in Exhall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to Sainsbury’s Group:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Sainsbury’s Group! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury’s Group
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that Sainsbury’s Group offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at Sainsbury’s Group and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
