At a Glance
- Tasks: Support product investment strategies and drive sales for Kate Spade New York.
- Company: Join a vibrant global lifestyle brand known for its bold and optimistic designs.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday, and discounts across multiple brands.
- Other info: Opportunities for learning, development, and career progression in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that shapes fashion and engages with diverse communities.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or planning, strong analytical skills, and a passion for fashion.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
Since its launch in 1993 with a collection of six essential handbags, Kate Spade New York has always been colorful, bold, and optimistic. Today, it is a global lifestyle brand that designs extraordinary things for the everyday, delivering seasonal collections of handbags, ready-to-wear, jewelry, footwear, home décor, and more. Known for its rich heritage and unique brand DNA, Kate Spade New York offers a distinctive point of view and celebrates communities of women around the globe who live their perfectly imperfect lifestyles.
Primary Purpose: The Assistant Buyer supports the execution of regional product investment strategies and helps to drive in-season sales and margin performance for the Kate Spade New York Europe business across Retail, eCommerce, and Wholesale channels.
The successful individual will leverage their proficiency in Buying/Planning to:
- Own the strategic and operational execution of product investment for Ready to Wear, Jewellery, Footwear, Tech and licensee departments across Retail, eCommerce and Wholesale channels.
- Drive in-season performance against sales and margin targets for Retail and Ecomm.
- Support store and eCommerce product investment to optimise consumer engagement across channels, ensuring a consistent product message across all touchpoints while reflecting regional market needs, trading landscapes, and brand directives.
- Partner with the eCommerce team to identify assortment opportunities and trading initiatives that support AOP/SMI delivery, ensuring proposed activities drive eCommerce trade for the relevant product categories.
- Contribute to indirect product assortments and share assortments by SKU and priority to deliver a synergy between direct and indirect channels.
- Support product selection and SKU investment within the OTB to achieve financial targets, while identifying business risks and opportunities.
- Support seasonal buy reviews, hindsight meetings, and management of the seasonal milestone calendar.
- Attend weekly team WSRM, delivering a financial overview with clear strategic actions and presenting to the wider Buying team.
- Drive sales and margin performance by maximising in-season opportunities, identifying future inventory risks and opportunities, and proposing trading activities to the Senior Buying Manager alongside the seasonal promotional calendar to support weekly trade in line with AOP/SMI targets.
- Analyse product performance, customer feedback, consumer trends, competitor activity, and local market insights to inform Global Merchandising.
- Identify regional opportunities and support commercial decision-making.
- Partner with the Inventory Planner to review on-hand inventory, drive activities that support Global WOH and turn targets, and propose clear actions with timelines.
- Meet monthly and annually to review AOP performance, assess sales and market trend shifts, and recommend buy adjustments to ensure AOP targets are met.
- Coordinate with the Wholesale Sales team to contribute to go-to-market assets.
- Work closely with the Allocation team to support category allocations, considering floorset launch dates and peak trading periods.
- Build and maintain close relationships with key partners in region and globally to support the execution of assortments.
- Conduct ad-hoc analysis and scenario planning to support trading decisions and future business needs.
- Provide admin support for pricing amendments and reports.
The accomplished individual will possess:
- Proven buying or planning experience within Full Price or Outlet channels.
- Understanding of the Wholesale buying model.
- Strong numeracy, analytical skills, and financial acumen, with a clear understanding of key financial drivers to maximise business performance.
- Working knowledge of Cora or SAP and advanced Excel skills.
- Knowledge of the fashion, accessories, or luxury goods market.
- Experience working with a global company or brand, with exposure to European markets.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build regional and global partnerships and work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
- Collaborative, highly organised, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Data-driven, with strong problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.
- Ability to apply market and industry insights to shape strategy, maintain competitiveness, and keep the customer at the centre of decision-making.
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 (Tuesday - Thursday working from the office, Monday and Friday working remotely).
- 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 programme.
- Enhanced 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.
Tapestry is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and we pride ourselves on hiring and developing the best people. All employment decisions (including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, transfer, training, discipline and termination) are based on the applicant’s or employee’s qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration. These decisions are made without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or any other legally-recognized protected basis prohibited by applicable law.
Assistant Buyer in London employer: Tapestry
At Tapestry, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Senior Manager in Brand Media, you will benefit from hybrid working arrangements, generous holiday allowances, and extensive learning and development opportunities, all while being part of a global brand committed to innovation and diversity. Join us in our London office, where collaboration and creativity are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring you have the support and resources to excel in your role and grow your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer 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 Tapestry, 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 Tapestry!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer 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 Tapestry, 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 Tapestry 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 Tapestry that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tapestry
✨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!
