At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive product development and manage supplier relationships in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Company: Join a growing retail business with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Exciting opportunity to work with diverse teams and develop successful product ranges.
- Why this job: Take ownership of product categories and make a real impact on customer satisfaction.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Buyer in retail or ecommerce, strong negotiation skills, and commercial awareness.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
About the Role
Our client is seeking an experienced
Buyer to join their growing retail business.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded individual to take ownership of a product category, driving product development, supplier relationships and commercial performance within a fast-paced retail environment.
Working closely with Merchandising, Product Development, Supply Chain and Ecommerce teams, you will be responsible for developing commercially successful product ranges, managing suppliers and delivering products that meet customer demand while achieving business targets.
Responsibilities
- Develop commercial product ranges that balance core products, seasonal lines and new launches.
- Manage the product development process from concept through to launch.
- Oversee the product sampling and approval process, ensuring quality and specifications are met.
- Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify new product opportunities.
- Deliver sales, margin and profitability targets across your category.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times and commercial terms with suppliers.
- Analyse sales performance and make recommendations to improve category performance.
- Support promotional planning and stock management decisions.
- Manage the critical path to ensure products are delivered on time.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Work with overseas suppliers and internal teams to resolve production and delivery issues.
- Collaborate with Ecommerce teams to ensure products are accurately represented online.
- Produce regular reports and category performance reviews.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in a Buyer role within a retail or ecommerce business.
- Experience buying within a fast-paced product category.
- Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
- Experience managing the product development process from concept to launch.
- Ability to analyse sales, margin and product performance data.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Desirable
- Experience working with overseas suppliers.
- Knowledge of Critical Path Management.
- Experience developing or growing a product category.
- Product knowledge within home, lifestyle or other consumer goods sectors.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Buyer in Manchester employer: The Candidate Ltd
The Candidate Ltd is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture in Greater Manchester that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a focus on employee growth, the company provides ongoing development opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare, making it an attractive place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer in Manchester
✨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 The Candidate Ltd, 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 The Candidate Ltd!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer in Manchester
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 The Candidate Ltd, 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 The Candidate Ltd 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 The Candidate Ltd that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Candidate Ltd
✨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!
