Assistant Buyer

Assistant Buyer

Devon Full-Time 28800 - 43200 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support the Buying team in developing strategies for product range and pricing.
  • Company: Join Argos, a leading UK retailer loved by millions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a supportive development culture.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving growth and customer satisfaction.
  • Qualifications: Experience in buying and strong analytical skills are essential.
  • Other info: Opportunities for career growth and a vibrant work environment await you.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.

Assistant Buyer
Salary: Competitive Plus Benefits Location: Coventry Store Support Centre – Ansty Park and Home, Coventry, CV7 9RD Contract type: Fixed-Term Assignment Business area: Non Food Closing date: 22 October 2025 Requisition ID:

Joining the team at Argos, you\’ll find yourself at the forefront of UK retail, in a brand that is loved by millions of customers across the country. Argos is a market leader in the general merchandise sector, with the third most visited retail website and a market leading same day delivery and click&collect service. Whether it\’s working across our amazing owned-brands of Habitat, Chad Valley and Bush, or working with the biggest global consumer brands like Apple, Lego, Xbox or Samsung, we have a breadth of opportunity to nurture your career. With roles across Buying, Merchandising, Design, Technical, or Commercial Planning or Operations, we have teams that always strive to make amazing product to delight our customers. The Argos Commercial teams work closely with many other functions across the business like Digital, Marketing, Retail and Logistics to deliver for our customers, allowing you to develop connections and learn from teams across the business. Development is important to us and you\’ll have the full support of your line manager in developing and growing your skill set and aiding your career aspirations.

Why join us

Our Buying team plays a crucial role in delivering our business strategy. Joining our friendly and passionate team means being part of an exciting and fast-paced environment where you can contribute to our ambitious growth plans. We value work-life balance and offer flexibility in our ways of working, allowing you to find the right balance that works for you. As an Assistant Buyer, you will have the opportunity to work with a dynamic range of products, developing strategies to enhance sales and profitability while understanding the needs and preferences of our customers. With previous buying experience and a passion for product, this role offers a platform for you to showcase your analytical skills, negotiation abilities, and commercial acumen.

What you\’ll do

You will play a vital role in delivering our ambitious growth plans and offering our customers a great range of products at competitive prices. You will contribute to the development of the 3-6 month promotional strategy for your category, ensuring accuracy in pricing across all channels. With a keen eye for relationship building and negotiation, coupled with your analytical approach, you will help drive sales and profit by implementing a variety of strategies. Your role will involve optimising the product range, considering the in-store experience and its impact on customers and store colleagues. Collaboration with the Product Development (PD) team and global sourcing will be crucial in setting quality criteria for own label products. As part of a fast-paced environment, you will showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work with UK suppliers, while efficiently managing administrative duties and sample management. Overall, your expertise in buying, combined with your commercial acumen and attention to detail, will be key in contributing to the success of our team.

Who you are

You are an experienced professional with a background in buying, preferably in a retail setting, and possess a deep understanding of product assortment, market trends, and the need for commercial acumen. Your strong analytical and numerical skills, combined with excellent communication and organisational abilities, enable you to contribute to range optimization, pricing accuracy, and promotional strategies. You are skilled in building relationships with UK suppliers and negotiating effectively, while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams. With your problem-solving mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, you play a crucial role in driving sales, ensuring product quality, and maintaining customer satisfaction.

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.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).

Please note, due to the volume of applications we receive, our roles may close early.

Assistant Buyer employer: Sainsbury's

At Argos, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the retail sector, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As an Assistant Buyer at our Coventry Store Support Centre, you'll enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous discounts and a performance-related bonus. We are committed to your professional growth, providing ample opportunities for development and a supportive environment where your contributions are recognised and valued.
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Contact Detail:

Sainsbury's Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Argos. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Argos and its products. Show your passion for the brand and be ready to discuss how your skills can help drive sales and enhance customer satisfaction.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your negotiation skills! As an Assistant Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play scenarios with friends or family to build confidence.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Argos.

We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer

Analytical Skills
Negotiation Skills
Commercial Acumen
Relationship Building
Problem-Solving Skills
Organisational Abilities
Communication Skills
Understanding of Market Trends
Product Assortment Knowledge
Pricing Accuracy
Promotional Strategy Development
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams
Attention to Detail
Experience in Buying

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Buyer role. Highlight your buying experience, analytical skills, and any relevant achievements that show off your commercial acumen. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your love for product and any experience with UK suppliers.

Showcase Your Skills: In your application, be sure to showcase your strong analytical and numerical skills. Give examples of how you've used these in previous roles to drive sales or optimise product ranges. We love seeing real-life applications of your skills!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of success. It’s straightforward and ensures your application goes directly to us. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role right there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's

✨Know Your Products

Before the interview, dive deep into the products Argos offers, especially in the non-food category. Familiarise yourself with their brands like Habitat and Chad Valley, and be ready to discuss how you would enhance their product range or promotional strategies.

✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills

Prepare examples that highlight your analytical abilities. Think about times you've used data to drive decisions or optimise product ranges. Being able to demonstrate your numerical skills will show that you're ready to contribute to sales and profitability.

✨Build Relationships

Since relationship building is key for an Assistant Buyer, come prepared with examples of how you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or collaborated with cross-functional teams. This will illustrate your ability to work well within a team and manage supplier relationships effectively.

✨Emphasise Problem-Solving

In a fast-paced environment like Argos, problem-solving is crucial. Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your resilience and ability to thrive under pressure, which is essential for this role.

Assistant Buyer
Sainsbury's
Location: Devon
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