At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the books range and drive sales in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Company: TG Jones, a forward-thinking retailer focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, private medical, and a 4pm Friday finish.
- Other info: Join a supportive team that values fresh ideas and diversity.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on the future of books in retail while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience as a retail/books Buyer with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Swindon Support Centre (hybrid working with 3 days per week in the office)
We are focused on building a sustainable and successful future for the business while continuing to deliver a consistent and valued retail offer. This role offers the opportunity to develop your career within a well-established organisation, contribute to ongoing improvement, and play a part in shaping the next chapter of TG Jones.
About the role
At TG Jones, Books play a key role within our broader Stationery, Toys, Cards and Impulse categories. We’re seeking a motivated, commercially driven and customer-focused Books Buyer to join our Commercial team, based at our Support Centre in Swindon. This role is critical in shaping a books range that works within a high street retail environment — delivering strong sales, margin, and cash profit through a customer focused, relevant and tightly edited fast-moving offer that drives both planned and impulse purchases. It takes a flair for relationship building, negotiation and an analytical approach.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Responsible for achieving sales, contribution and margin targets by selecting and promoting titles, while working closely with merchandising to manage stock budgets and availability.
- Define and execute a clear books category strategy, balancing core chart titles, evergreen lines, seasonal ranges, and impulse-led opportunities which set TG Jones apart from competitors.
- Building strong supplier relationships, negotiating cost reductions, first-to-market advantages, and supplier income opportunities, while ensuring effective supply chain and cost management.
- Overseeing the critical path of key launches, promotions, seasonal and range delivery, leading the development of innovative marketing plans and executing effective range reviews using data analysis to drive continuous improvement.
- Staying ahead of market trends, customer demands, and competitor activity to identify commercial opportunities.
- Fostering open and effective communication with stores via central operations and regular store visits.
About you
If you're a forward-thinking professional with the ambition to drive change, deliver exceptional results, and bring fresh ideas to the table, you'll thrive in an environment where collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do. As TG Jones continues to grow and evolve, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, influence the future of the business, and develop your career alongside a team that values ambition, expertise, and fresh thinking.
Experience required for this role will include:
- An experienced retail/books Buyer who has history in delivering a variety of strategies.
- A commercial mindset is essential, with the ability to analyse sales performance, recognising opportunities and risks to support trade decisions and maximise sales and profit.
- You will be analytical and insight-driven, confident using data to inform decisions and drive performance.
- A skilled negotiator with experience delivering supplier income and building effective partnerships.
- You will be passionate about books, trends, and customer behaviour, with the ability to translate insight into a compelling, relevant offer.
- You will have strong negotiation skills and be able to effectively manage high income targets across your category.
- You will be pragmatic and solutions-focused, able to balance ambition with operational reality.
- Strong communicator, able to influence cross-functional teams and simplify complexity for execution in-store.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the role of books within TG Jones — creating a focused, commercially successful range that complements our core categories and delivers for our customers in a fast-paced retail environment.
About us
At TG Jones, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an environment where everyone feels supported, respected, and empowered to succeed. You'll be encouraged to share ideas, develop new skills, and contribute to a team that works together to achieve great results. Whether you're beginning your career or bringing years of experience, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and make a meaningful contribution in a business that's shaping its future.
Company benefits for our Support Centre colleagues include 4pm Friday finish, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, your birthday off, holiday trading scheme, family friendly leave, employee discounts, free coffee Wednesdays and much more!
At TG Jones, we're committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and celebrate the diversity that makes each of us unique. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know, we're happy to help.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer, Books in Swindon
✨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 TG Jones, 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 TG Jones!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer, Books in Swindon
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 TG Jones, 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 TG Jones 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 TG Jones that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at TG Jones
✨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!
