Skincare Category Buyer – Body & Bronzing (Hybrid) in Croydon

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Location: Croydon

Hours: 37.5 | 9.00am - 5.30pm – Hybrid working available depending on role responsibilities with 2 days working from home and 3 days in our stylish, modern and collaborative office close to East Croydon Station.

Salary: Competitive

The Buyer will work within the skincare team, seeking to maximise sales and profit for the Expert skin and Body skin categories. This role plays a key part in selecting products and working with the Merchandising team to analyse the products’ performance. As a Buyer you will own the supplier relationships for your category by developing and implementing strategic plans, while ensuring the customer remains central to your decision making. This role will report into the Senior Buyer at Superdrug Stores Plc.

A proven background in buying is key to this role, as well as a strong understanding of the market. You will have experience buying branded product and have a creative eye and an awareness of current retail trends. Strong commercial acumen and superb Excel skills are key to this role, as well as the ability to work independently, efficiently and with initiative.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering category plans including range reviews, promotions, pricing and stock consistent with overall commercial strategy and financial objectives.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop and implement marketing promotional plans and strategies relevant to category, adhere to legislation and brand guidelines, and clearly communicate with the customer, driving footfall and profitable sales.
• Review and evaluate the effectiveness of promotions, taking appropriate action where necessary, and sharing best practice with peers and other stakeholders.
• Work with the Own Brand team to develop and deliver own brand products/ranges that increase participation and meet agreed strategy and plans.
• Work in partnership with the Merchandising team, agree merchandising strategy that drives and delivers right range in the right store, ensuring availability in store and control of slow moving stock.
• Identify and implement new product opportunities that are competitively priced, commercially viable and meet customer needs, driving sales and profitability.
• Manage and review pricing, ensuring pricing is competitive and maximises profitability while operating within company pricing strategy.
• Work with Supply Chain to ensure base sales and promotional forecasts are adhered to, whilst maintaining in‑store availability to meet customer needs.
• Develop effective internal working relationships with cross‑functional team members to support and enhance category objectives and performance.
• Build and maintain effective external relationships to enhance the Superdrug proposition and meet customer needs.
• Adopt appropriate negotiation strategies to attain the best terms for the category and the business.
• Act as a category expert – utilise and continually develop knowledge in category products, competitors and market activity to deliver increased category performance objectives.

What You’ll Need

• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a buyer in a retail environment (grocer, fragrance, healthcare).
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong Excel skills.
• Very strong commercial awareness and creative skills.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Decisive and able to work in a super fast‑paced environment.
• Strong communication, analytical and organisational skills.
• Display delegation skills, prioritise within delegated tasks and manage deadlines.
• Practice excellent time‑management skills and ability to cope under pressure.

Benefits

• 33 days holiday rising to 38 days with length of service (inclusive of bank holidays).
• 2 staff discount codes for yourself and a family member or friend.
• 30% discount on Superdrug Own Brand Products both in store and online.
• Hybrid working patterns available depending on role responsibilities with 2 days working from home and 3 days in our stylish, modern and collaborative office close to East Croydon Station.
• Company pension matching and bonus.
• We offer Stream – a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it.
• Part of a group working closely with Savers, The Perfume Shop and Three UK.
• Part of A.S. Watson Group, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer with over 15,700 stores in 25 markets.
• Unrivalled Learning and Development programmes.
• Enhanced maternity/shared parental/adoption leave, company sick pay and pregnancy loss and support.