At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to shape product ranges in Personal Electricals and drive commercial success.
- Company: Argos, a leading digital retailer, committed to innovation and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, performance bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Collaborate with talented colleagues and explore diverse career opportunities across the business.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your career in retail buying.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong analytical skills, and ability to negotiate with suppliers.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
About the team
Our Argos Commercial & Digital team shapes product ranges that make it easier for customers to find the products they need at the right value. Within Personal Electricals, you will join a commercial, fast-moving buying team responsible for well-known brands across Male and Female Personal Grooming and Dental. Working with major suppliers and colleagues across Merchandising, Digital, Marketing, Product Development and Global Sourcing, the team combines customer insight with strong commercial judgement to build competitive ranges and deliver profitable growth.
More about the role
As Buyer for Personal Electricals, you will translate the category strategy into compelling ranges, effective pricing and strong trading plans. You will own assigned ranges, from strategy and range selection through to launch, promotion, ongoing performance and exit plans at the end of the product life cycle. You will be accountable for key measures including sales, margin, stock, availability, digital performance and customer satisfaction. This is a highly promotional, competitive category, so you will use customer, market and competitor insight to make timely commercial decisions. You will build productive relationships with major branded suppliers, negotiate funding agreements and develop joint business plans that support growth and market share. You will also work closely with Merchandising on budgets and forecasts, partner with Digital and Marketing on customer-facing plans, and lead and support an Assistant Buyer responsible for Dental category.
More about you
You will bring experience from within a Buying role and be comfortable taking ownership of a retail product range. You can interpret complex commercial data, including sales, margin, stock, availability and competitor information, and turn it into clear decisions across ranging, pricing, promotions and supplier plans. Experience in electricals, technology or another branded hard-goods category would be particularly relevant. You will be confident building relationships and negotiating with suppliers, while collaborating with colleagues across multiple functions. You will work with pace, stay close to the detail and maintain clear accountability in a complex retail environment. You will also be able to guide an Assistant Buyer, prioritise activity and communicate recommendations clearly to stakeholders at different levels.
Essential criteria
- Current or previous experience in a Buying role, with responsibility for owning or supporting a retail product range.
- Experience working with branded products or suppliers in electricals, technology or another directly comparable hard-goods category.
- Evidence of using sales, margin, stock, availability, customer and competitor data to make commercial decisions.
- Experience creating or delivering range, pricing, trading or promotional plans against agreed commercial targets.
- Experience negotiating with suppliers and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders to deliver a commercial outcome.
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 10% 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).
Buyer - Personal Electricals in London 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 Buyer - Personal Electricals 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 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 Buyer - Personal Electricals 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 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!
