At a Glance
- Tasks: Own seasonal product ranges, driving growth through data-driven decisions and supplier collaboration.
- Company: Join Argos, a leading digital retailer shaping the future of shopping.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, and a performance-related bonus up to 10% of salary.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal growth and cross-functional collaboration.
- Why this job: Make an impact on exciting seasonal products while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Buying experience or Assistant Buyer role with proven commercial decision-making skills.
The predicted salary is between 28350 - 34650 £ per year.
About the team
Our Seasonals team brings some of Argos’ most exciting and customer-loved moments to life, from year-round gifting to the products that make Christmas feel special. Sitting within Argos Commercial & Digital, the team works closely with Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Global Sourcing, Digital, Marketing and suppliers to create relevant, competitive ranges that deliver for customers and the business.
More about the role
As Buyer for Seasonals, you’ll take ownership of assigned ranges across Events & Gifting, translating the category strategy into a customer-focused proposition that delivers profitable growth. You’ll manage range selection and architecture, pricing, supplier activity, forecasts and promotional plans, using sales, margin, stock, availability, digital and customer insight to guide your decisions. A major focus will be progressing the next Christmas range towards January sign-off. You’ll work with Design, Product Development, Global Sourcing and the Assistant Buyer to develop products and build ranges across areas such as trees, decorations and lighting, while also trading the current Christmas offer. You’ll manage supplier relationships and negotiations, collaborate with Merchandising on budgets and forecasts, and adapt plans in response to performance, market trends and competitor activity.
More about you
You’ll bring buying experience and evidence of making commercial decisions for a product range. You’ll be comfortable interpreting multiple data sources, including sales, margin, stock, customer and competitor insight, and turning that analysis into clear range, pricing or trading actions. You’ll also have experience of working with suppliers and cross-functional teams to deliver plans against agreed measures. Exposure to both own-brand product development and branded ranges will be important. If you are currently an Assistant Buyer, you will need to demonstrate that you have already led decisions and deliverables at the level required to step into a C4 Buyer role.
Essential criteria
- Buying experience with direct accountability for a product range, or Assistant Buyer experience with evidence of independently leading commercial decisions.
- Evidence of using sales, margin, stock, availability, customer and competitor data to make range, pricing or trading decisions against defined targets.
- Experience of developing both own-brand and branded product ranges, including product selection and collaboration with design, product development or sourcing teams.
- Experience of supplier management and commercial negotiation, including pricing, promotional funding or supplier performance targets.
- Evidence of delivering a range or category plan through cross-functional stakeholders in a retail or other complex multi-channel environment.
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 - Seasonals (6 month FTC) 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 - Seasonals (6 month FTC) in London
✨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 Buyer - Seasonals (6 month FTC) 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 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:Don’t forget to personalise your application for Sainsbury's! 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
✨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 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 and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
