At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Buyer in delivering sales and margin targets for jewellery and watches.
- Company: Join Argos, a digital-led UK retailer with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus.
- Other info: Great opportunities for career growth and learning across various teams.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your buying skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying roles and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 33000 £ per year.
About the team
Our Jewellery & Watches Buying team sits within Argos Commercial, shaping an exciting and varied customer offer across own-brand jewellery and some of the best-known watch brands. It is a small team with a big category, so you will be close to the decisions, trusted with meaningful responsibility and able to see the impact of your work. From kids’ jewellery and fashion-led newness to branded watches, there is plenty of variety and opportunity to build broad buying experience.
More about the role
As Assistant Buyer, you will support the Buyer in delivering category sales, margin and supplier-income targets. You will help develop range and promotional plans, review trading and competitor performance, maintain accurate product and pricing information, and turn customer and commercial insight into clear recommendations. As you build your category knowledge, you will take ownership of selected ranges or subcategories and support important promotional activity. Day to day, you will work closely with suppliers and colleagues across Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Product Development and Global Sourcing. You will manage activity against the critical path, support samples and approvals, contribute to digital and in-store execution, and help ensure ranges launch accurately and on time. With both branded and own-brand products, this is a strong opportunity to develop experience across supplier management, commercial trading and product development.
More about you
You will have experience working in a Buying role, where you have supported or owned elements of range planning, product selection, pricing, promotions and supplier relationships. You will be commercially minded and comfortable using sales, margin, profit and customer insight data to inform buying decisions. You will also be confident managing detail, priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment. You do not need previous jewellery or watches experience. What matters is your ability to learn a category quickly, build productive supplier and stakeholder relationships, and take ownership of your work. You will combine commercial curiosity with strong organisation, accurate administration and a clear focus on delivering the right outcomes for customers.
Essential criteria
- Experience working within buying, with evidence of supporting range, product, pricing or promotional decisions.
- Ability to interpret sales, margin, profit and supplier-income data and use the findings to recommend commercial actions.
- Experience managing product, pricing, promotional or supplier information accurately through business systems and Excel.
- Experience building working relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver agreed actions and deadlines.
- Ability to manage multiple activities against a critical path in a fast-paced environment, identifying risks and escalating issues appropriately.
Responsibilities
At Argos, we’re a digital-led UK retailer that keeps pushing boundaries to meet every generation with what they want, how and when they want it. As a market leader in general merchandise, serving millions of customers through our website, app, same-day delivery and Click & Collect services, we offer real opportunities to learn, grow and shape your career. With roles spanning Commercial, Buying, Merchandising, Design and Supply Chain, through to Digital, Operations, Customer Experience, Marketing, and People and Transformation, you will work with brilliant colleagues and directly shape how we serve our customers every day. From enabling inspiring choice across our owned brands, including Habitat, Chad Valley and Bush, alongside the world’s biggest brands like Apple, Lego, Xbox and Samsung, to making shopping effortlessly convenient, championing trusted value and accelerating our strategy - Argos is an exciting place to build your future.
Qualifications
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 www.sainsburys.jobs 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 - Jewellery & Watches in Coventry employer: Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's in Torquay offers a vibrant work environment where teamwork and customer service are at the heart of everything we do. As a Night Shift Trading Assistant, you'll benefit from comprehensive training, opportunities for personal growth, and the chance to make a real difference in our community by ensuring our store is well-stocked and welcoming. Join us for a rewarding experience in a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and encourages career advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Jewellery & Watches 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, 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!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Jewellery & Watches 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, 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 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 that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨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!