At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape category strategy for beds and oversee performance across multi-channel retail.
- Company: Join Argos, a leader in customer-led retail with a dynamic team culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary plus benefits, with opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and performance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-visibility role within a strategic category.
- Qualifications: Experience in non-food buying and strong supplier management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits
Location: Coventry Store Support Centre - Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: Argos
Closing date: 08 July 2026
Requisition ID: 400067331
About the team
At Argos, our Commercial & Digital team is responsible for shaping customer-led ranges and propositions that deliver strong value, trusted brands and a seamless omni-channel experience. Our buying teams sit at the heart of that, bringing together market insight, supplier partnerships, digital understanding and commercial decision-making to drive profitable growth. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high-impact team in a role with real visibility across the business and the chance to influence a strategically important category.
More about the role
As Senior Buyer for Beds, you’ll shape category strategy and oversee its delivery across a multi-channel retail environment. You’ll be accountable for commercial performance across sales, margin, stock, availability, digital metrics and customer satisfaction, ensuring the category remains competitive, customer-focused and aligned to overall commercial and brand strategy. This is a highly branded area, so supplier and brand relationship management will be central to your success. You’ll lead range architecture, trading and promotional planning, and work closely with Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Product Development, Technical and Global Sourcing to optimise cost, speed to market and customer proposition. You’ll also lead Joint Business Planning with strategic suppliers, negotiate commercial agreements including rebate and marketing funding, influence new product and innovation roadmaps, and support the development of a high-performing buying team.
More about you
We’re looking for a commercially strong buying leader with experience in a non-food omni-channel retail environment. You’ll be confident shaping category plans, balancing short- and long-term priorities, and using data, market insight and customer trends to make informed decisions. You’ll bring credibility in a branded category, strong supplier management experience and the ability to influence at all levels inside and outside the business. Beds category experience would be particularly valuable, especially if you already have established relationships with relevant brands and suppliers. You’ll also need to be comfortable negotiating commercial terms and funding agreements, working at pace in a dynamic retail setting, and leading others through clear direction, coaching and collaboration. Strong digital awareness will be important, as the role also requires someone who can strengthen the online proposition and use digital insight to improve performance.
Qualifications
- Experience owning a non-food buying category or sub-category in an omni-channel retail environment, with accountability for commercial performance including sales, margin, stock, availability or promotional delivery
- Experience managing branded supplier relationships and leading commercial negotiations, including Joint Business Planning, rebate agreements, marketing funding or equivalent supplier terms
- Ability to analyse data from multiple sources and use this to make decisions on range, pricing, promotions, digital performance and category strategy
- Experience working cross-functionally with teams such as Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Product Development, Technical or Sourcing to deliver category plans and launches
- Knowledge of the beds market, or a closely related home/furniture category, including relevant brands, suppliers and customer trends
Senior Buyer - Beds in Coventry employer: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
At Argos, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Located in the vibrant Coventry Store Support Centre, our team enjoys competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth within a high-impact environment. As a Senior Buyer for Beds, you'll not only influence key business strategies but also thrive in a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and encourages career advancement.
Contact Details:
Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer - Beds in Coventry
✨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 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, 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 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer - Beds in Coventry
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 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, 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 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd 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 Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
✨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!
