At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape exciting collections and drive growth while championing sustainability.
- Company: Join Seasalt, a creative lifestyle brand with a rich heritage and a B Corp certification.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and a 50% employee discount.
- Other info: Flexible working across Cornwall and remote options available.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team making impactful decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying within fashion retail and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 39000 - 42000 £ per year.
About the role
At Seasalt, creativity is in our DNA. We began in 1981 in a small shop in Penzance, crafting workwear for local mariners and artists. Today, we’re a modern lifestyle brand with over 80 shops across the UK and Ireland, 400+ wholesale stockists, and a growing global presence. We may have grown, but we’ve always stayed true to our roots with Cornwall’s artistic influence and maritime heritage woven into every garment. As a certified B Corp and winner of Drapers “Best Place to Work” in 2024, we’re proud to balance our culture with long‑term growth. It’s an exciting time to join us as we build on our distinct creative handwriting, brand differentiation, and expand both internationally and within the UK.
As a Buyer, you’ll play a key role in shaping collections that delight our customers, drive commercial growth, and reinforce our brand identity. You’ll own your product area end-to-end—from range planning and sourcing to launch and in‑season trading—ensuring we have the right product, at the right price, at the right time, across all channels. You’ll work in a fast‑paced, data‑driven environment, collaborating with Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail, and Technical teams to make commercially confident decisions that meet customer expectations while championing sustainability. Leading and developing a high‑performing team of Assistant Buyers and Buying Admin Assistants, you’ll create a culture of excellence, accountability, and innovation. This is a full‑time, permanent role. As part of our Seasalt Connected approach to ways of working, it will be based flexibly across our Cornwall head office locations (minimum of two days per week) and remotely within the UK.
Responsibilities
- Owning the full product lifecycle, from range building and style creation to production sign‑off, ensuring a commercially balanced and customer‑focused assortment.
- Making data‑driven decisions to curate cohesive, compelling ranges across all channels, aligned with brand, sustainability, and commercial targets.
- Collaborating with Design, Merchandising, and eCommerce to ensure product direction, online presentation, and in‑season trading decisions drive growth and margin.
- Managing supplier relationships, including performance tracking, structured appraisals, and acting as the key liaison with suppliers, stakeholders, and leadership to resolve production issues and delays.
- Demonstrating strong negotiation skills across costs and lead times, aligned with ETI purchasing best practice guidelines.
- Reacting to market trends and in‑season trading insights, analysing performance in real time, identifying opportunities to maximise sell‑through, minimise markdowns, and optimise category performance.
- Providing weekly and seasonal trade analysis with actionable insights to drive growth.
- Leading trade, lessons learned, and hindsight reviews, summarising insights to inform future strategies.
- Overseeing critical paths, approvals, and product calendars to ensure timely product launches and efficient operations.
- Driving continuous process improvements, implementing digital tools, and supporting Marketing and Visual Merchandising to enable strong campaigns and compelling in‑store presentation.
- Leading, coaching, and developing the Assistant Buyer and Buyers Admin Assistants, setting clear objectives, fostering engagement, and creating a high‑performance culture.
Qualifications
- Proven Buying experience in a Buyer, Junior Buyer or Senior Assistant Buyer role within a premium, lifestyle, or fashion retail environment.
- Critical path and supply chain management: strong grasp of lead times, product lifecycle management, and ensuring products land on time and at the right price.
- Proven experience in managing and mentoring junior team members (Assistant Buyer, Admin Assistant) to drive performance and engagement.
- Ability to make quick, commercially sound decisions based on data, market insights, and brand positioning.
- Handles challenges with a problem‑solving mindset, overcoming obstacles in sourcing and product development.
- Strong eye for detail.
- Excellent communication skills, and strong presenter.
- Adaptable and agile – responds quickly to market changes, ethical considerations, and shifts in consumer behaviour.
- Inspirational leader and team player – engages and motivates colleagues, ensuring alignment with the brand’s ethical mission.
- Demonstrates a proactive growth mindset, continuously developing skills, embracing feedback, and adapting positively to new challenges to enhance creative and commercial impact.
- Academic background within business, fashion, IT, or data‑related subjects is desirable.
Benefits
- Salary: £39,000 - £42,000 depending on experience (Band 3)
- 34 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing with length of service
- Attractive 50% employee discount
- Flexible benefits allowance to personalise your benefits package
- Private Medical Scheme including 24/7 virtual GP
- Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme through Retail Trust with 24/7 support
- Pension plan with generous 7% employer contributions
- Life assurance programme
- Enhanced family leave policies
- Flexible working opportunities with our hybrid working approach
- Learning and Development opportunities
- Do Good Things with our two days per year paid volunteering opportunities
- Employee networks to develop and provide support to our people, including the Inclusion Network
- 100s of savings on top retailers and gym memberships through our discount hub
Closing date for applications is 17/06; however, roles can close earlier, so we recommend applying as soon as possible.
Buyer in Falmouth employer: Seasalt
Seasalt is an exceptional employer that champions creativity and sustainability, offering a vibrant work culture deeply rooted in Cornwall's artistic heritage. With flexible working arrangements, generous benefits including 34 days of annual leave, and a commitment to employee development, Seasalt fosters a supportive environment where team members can thrive and make a meaningful impact. As a certified B Corp and winner of Drapers 'Best Place to Work' in 2024, joining Seasalt as a Buyer means being part of a forward-thinking brand dedicated to both commercial success and social responsibility.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Falmouth
✨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 Seasalt, 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 Seasalt!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Falmouth
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 Seasalt, 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 Seasalt 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 Seasalt that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Seasalt
✨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!
