At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Nike buying team to select and present exciting product ranges.
- Company: Be part of Very, a digital retailer focused on helping families thrive.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 27 days holiday, and a £250 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities and a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Work with a global brand and make a real impact in the sports industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or merchandising, strong communication, and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 25650 - 31350 £ per year.
About us
We’re the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go. If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.
About the team
We’re looking for trend aware sports enthusiasts to join our dedicated Nike buying & merchandising team. This is a unique opportunity to work closely with one of the world’s biggest brands, which will be across multiple sports disciplines as well as sport-style fashion. As part of The Very Sports Team, you will deliver a product offer that our customers will love - while also considering the overall department strategy. Relationship building is essential in this role to ensure you are working closely with your immediate team, the wider Sports Category Team, the Marketing Team and of course – Nike.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Buyer who already has experience at this level or someone who is ready to progress. You’ll report directly into the Buyer for the area so lots of opportunity to further develop your skills. Day to day you will be selecting commercial range-plans suited to our customer, producing and presenting reports at trade meetings on trends, forecasts and opportunities.
The skills and behaviours imperative to being a successful AB candidate are:
- Methodical
- Passionate
- Strong communication skills
- Can demonstrate initiative
- Has a strong eye for product
- Understand the current market/competition
- Excellent attention to detail
Key Responsibilities:
- Relationship management: both internally and externally will be important, building strong relationships to maximise commercial opportunities – Key relationships day to day email management with supply chain.
- Commercial awareness: Awareness of the market is key, keeping track of competitor activity, market trends and price positioning.
- Maintaining relationships with brands in line with our values.
- Able to deputise for the Buyer in key meetings.
- Able to delegate or take lead and make decisions under pressure.
- Formulating Range Frameworks/Brand Plans alongside merchandising functions.
About you
You will be highly organised with great communication skills. You know how to analyse performance and apply lessons learnt to future range building. You can pre-empt potential challenges that may impact team or trading and take steps to minimise them before they arise. You will build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Liaison with SMT and can clearly articulate sign offs and category performance. Trading actions – identifying how to maximise best sellers and identifying worst sellers and minimising risk. Able to delegate/ take lead.
Some of our benefits:
- Flexible, hybrid working model
- Inclusive culture and environment
- £250 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
- 27 days holiday + bank holidays
- LinkedIn Learning access
- Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
- Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
- Matched pension up to 6%
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
What happens next?
Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely. You can expect a two-stage interview process for this position:
- 1st stage - A 30-minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.
- 2nd Stage – A one-hour formal interview where you can expect both competency and technical questions as well as a task where you will have the opportunity to showcase analytical and commercial skills relevant to the role. This can be held either in-person or remotely.
As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments. If you'd like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.
Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities
We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via talentacquisition@theverygroup.com. We’ll be happy to support you. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.
Assistant Buyer - Nike in London employer: The Very Group
The Very Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for aspiring finance professionals. Located in the vibrant East Midlands, we offer comprehensive employee growth opportunities, including training and development programmes, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our financial success and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Buyer - Nike 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 The Very Group, 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 Very Group!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Buyer - Nike 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 The Very Group, 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 Very Group 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 Very Group that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Very Group
✨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!
