At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive product investment strategies for Coach Men’s Leathergoods and Jewellery categories.
- Company: Join Coach, a global fashion house with a commitment to inclusivity and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and a vibrant workplace culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of luxury fashion.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in buying, strong analytical skills, and a passion for fashion.
Coach is a global fashion house founded in New York in 1941. Inspired by the vision of Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the inclusive and courageous spirit of our hometown, we make beautiful things, crafted to last—for you to be yourself in. Coach is part of the Tapestry portfolio – a global house of brands committed to stretching what’s possible.
A member of the Tapestry family, we are part of a global house of brands that has unwavering optimism and is committed to being innovative and wholly inclusive. Visit Our People page to learn more about Tapestry's commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Primary Purpose: The Junior Buyer is responsible for driving the strategic and operational execution of product investment for Coach Men’s Leathergoods and Jewellery categories for Outlet and Collection channels in Europe. Reporting to the Senior Buying Manager for Men’s Leathergoods and Lifestyle, this position plays a key role in delivering brand, product, and planning strategies.
The successful individual will leverage their proficiency in Buying to:
- Support the strategic and operational execution of product investment for Men’s and Jewellery categories, driving in-season performance against sales, margin, and inventory targets across Outlet and Collection channels in Europe.
- Plan and manage sales and inventory at SKU level across channels, including markdown planning and end-of-season clearance. Maintain forecast accuracy to inform product performance analysis and identify risks and opportunities.
- Contribute to buying strategies, including product selection, assortment planning, tiering, and alignment across Outlet, Collection, Wholesale, and Marketplace channels.
- Contribute to seasonal planning, including milestone calendars, buy reviews, and hindsight meetings, ensuring alignment across stakeholders.
- Deliver weekly and ad hoc trade analysis, providing clear financial insights, performance updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
- Optimise trading performance by analysing sales, inventory, customer feedback, market trends, and competitor activity. Translate feedback and insights into actionable plans.
- Partner cross-functionally with Inventory Planning, Allocation, and Wholesale teams to manage inventory levels, prioritise allocations, and align assortments with trading needs and key trading periods.
- Support the pricing strategy and execution, ensuring accurate system updates, consistency across channels, and alignment with go-to-market plans.
- Manage and maintain product, pricing, and inventory data across systems (e.g. RPAS/Cora), ensuring accuracy, integrity, and timely updates across departments.
- Support go-to-market readiness, including assortments, assets, and alignment across Outlet, Collection, and Wholesale channels.
- Contribute to financial planning cycles (monthly & annual AOP) and future strategies (e.g. Made-to-Forecast).
- Build and maintain strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders to enable effective cross-functional collaboration.
The accomplished individual will possess:
- 3+ years’ experience in buying and planning, ideally including exposure to the Outlet channel.
- Multi-category experience, including handbags and accessories.
- Strong numerical and analytical capabilities, with a clear understanding of key financial drivers to maximise business performance.
- Working knowledge of systems such as RPAS, Cora, or SAP.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- An understanding of the fashion or luxury accessories market, with experience working for a global brand or organisation.
- Experience supporting or operating within the European market.
- Ability to leverage market and industry insights to inform strategy, maintaining a competitive and customer-centric approach.
- A data-led mindset, using insights to guide decision-making.
- A solution-oriented approach with a proactive attitude to problem-solving.
- Ability to translate priorities into clear direction and align team efforts.
- Strong strategic thinking skills combined with sound commercial acumen.
- Proven ability to make effective decisions under pressure and within tight deadlines.
- Ability to build strong regional and global partnerships, engaging effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
Please be advised that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. As such, you will only be considered if you already possess the right to work in the UK.
What Tapestry can offer you:
- Hybrid working (3 days working from the office, 2 days remote).
- Option to finish early on a Friday (Flex Fridays).
- 1 Paid Volunteering Day per year and opportunities to volunteer with global projects.
- Learning & Development opportunities.
- Internal mobility & career progression.
- Regular Social Events - Seasonal & Cultural.
- Equity Inclusion & Diversity initiatives which include employee resource groups & regional inclusion council.
Other benefits include:
- 25 days holiday in addition to bank holidays.
- Annual Incentive Plan (company performance bonus).
- Multi brand discount up to 50% off – Coach and Kate Spade.
- Private Healthcare with health assessment (Bupa).
- Bupa rewards - Financial wellbeing support and wellness discounts.
- Private Dental Cover.
- Free 24/7 support for family building, fertility and menopause with Maven.
- Eyecare vouchers.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Employer Pension Contribution.
- Gym discount.
- Interest free season ticket loan.
- Cycle to work scheme.
At Tapestry, we are committed to building a diverse & inclusive workforce. We know that having a wide range of perspectives and experiences makes us more innovative and brings us closer to our consumers. If you are interested in this role but do not believe you meet all the set criteria, that’s ok. We are happy to work with individuals who have the drive, passion, agility and willingness to learn. So, take a chance and apply; you may just be who we are looking for. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Our Competencies for All Employees
- Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
- Creativity: Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming settings.
- Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
- Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
- Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
- Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
- Learning on the Fly: Learns quickly when facing new problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyzes both successes and failures for clues to improvement; experiments and will try anything to find solutions; enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks; quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.
Our Competencies for All People Managers
- Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
- Developing Direct Reports and Others: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
- Building Effective Teams: Blends people into teams when needed; creates strong morale and spirit in their team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; defines success in terms of the whole team; creates a feeling of belonging in the team.
Junior Buyer employer: Tapestry, Inc.
At Tapestry, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and inclusion. Our Greater London office provides a dynamic environment where Junior Buyers can thrive, with opportunities for professional growth through learning and development initiatives, as well as the chance to engage in meaningful community projects. With benefits like hybrid working, generous holiday allowances, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, Tapestry is committed to fostering a supportive workplace where every individual can flourish.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Buyer
✨Get Down to the Fashion Events
Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like Tapestry, Inc.!
✨Join Fashion-Focused Communities
Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including Tapestry, Inc..
✨Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio
Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for Tapestry, Inc..
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at Tapestry, Inc.!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Buyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!
Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at Tapestry, Inc..
Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to Tapestry, Inc.!
Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at Tapestry, Inc.. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tapestry, Inc.
✨Showcase Your Style Portfolio
For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!
✨Know the Latest Trends and Brands
Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills
In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Dress the Part
This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!