At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development for home collections, sourcing innovative items and managing supplier relationships.
- Company: Join The White Company, a leader in stylish homeware with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 50% discount, 25-28 days holiday, and a bonus scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working options, social events, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of homeware while developing your skills in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or a related field, with strong negotiation and creative skills.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Our Role
The Buyer – Home will have responsibility for our living collections including: Kitchen & Dining, Home Accessories and Furniture and Seasonal product areas.
Outstanding expertise within the Homeware markets is a must.
Proven ability to source and develop a commercial, comprehensive and innovative product range which ensures that profit objectives are met.
To be able to work within the brand guidelines, developing product which is appropriate to the TWC lifestyle and a step ahead of our competitors.
Excellent stakeholder management skills representing the brand and home collections both inside and outside the business.
Deliver and drive a robust, well balanced supply chain solution which adequately protects business risk.
Leads a creative and successful team nurturing and developing talent.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Product Development
- To build a balanced, commercial and sufficiently innovative product range suitable for the needs of all business channels.
- To source new products and negotiate prices to achieve and exceed margin targets where possible.
- To produce initial ideas and strategy packs for new season development meetings.
- To review historical performance and determine future product strategy, working closely with the Merchandiser.
- To plan internet and retail requirements, to propose both pagination planning and retail ranging.
- To propose new and innovative ideas for product development, working closely with design to pull together new season product briefs for sign off.
- To attend UK and International trade shows to source new suppliers and products, to keep abreast of market trends.
- To plan pricing and sourcing strategy to ensure margin targets are met.
- To ensure that all product and supplier information is correctly maintained on the system and up to date to support departmental deadlines, to challenge thoroughly cost assumptions, to spot
- To clearly identify sampling required, providing commercial management and timely feedback to suppliers.
- To approve bulk fabric, yarns, packaging and all components to meet critical path dates.
- To propose the key assumptions behind the critical path to ensure all critical dates are achieved, to ensure the buying team actively progress manage and that risk is well managed.
- To work closely with the QA department, to specifically ensure that all sealing stages are running to critical path requirements.
- Supplier Management
- In collaboration with the QA team to ensure that suppliers deliver on their commitment to quality and ethical standards and work efficiently within our processes.
- To propose changes to supply base as necessary to protect the business.
- To conduct well planned sourcing and buying trips to meet the requirements of the critical path.
- To ensure that new season development is progressed efficiently and commercially. To manage the product brief process.
- To work with suppliers to ensure all sealers meet our quality, creative and commercial requirements.
- Manage the co-ordination and development of all products and necessary information to enable selection meetings to run efficiently and to ensure deadlines are met.
- Undertake regular supplier visits and review meetings, to keep on top of all relevant market developments and develop a strong partnership.
- To ensure that suppliers accept and adhere to our supplier manual and terms.
- Commercial Awareness
- To undertake regular store visits - ideally at least every two months.
- To undertake competitor visits on a regular basis and regularly review market data, proposing strategic actions as a result.
- To have an excellent understanding of the target customer and emerging trends.
- To consistently deliver excellent standards of customer service, to be pro-active in seeking customer feedback from all business channels.
- To have a thorough understanding of the weekly reports and sales by line reports, in order to direct trading actions, repeats and markdowns with the Merchandiser and to identify new opportunities across all channels.
- To work closely with the Merchandiser to review line level performance and agree decisions on which lines to continue or discontinue.
- To present best and worst product at meetings with evaluation on performance and impact on future strategy.
- To review returns regularly with the QA team and ensure necessary action taken and lessons learnt.
- To work with the design and marketing team to support the product copy writing process to ensure features and benefits of products are sold.
- To have a strong working knowledge of all systems and use to support buying decisions as necessary.
- To play an active role in trading stores and web, to liaise closely with the visual teams on retail planning.
- Management, Training and Development
- To adopt a positive and proactive approach to training and development, to participate fully in all team related activities.
To work closely with other Buying and Merchandising teams to identify best practise.
- To ensure that stores, web team and call centre receive product communication and training as necessary; challenge opportunities to improve sales performance.
- To continually review processes and controls, initiating improvements in best practise as necessary.
- To assist in the development and training of the Buying team.
- To manage the team on a day to day basis.
- The skills and experience you’ll need
- Systems knowledge
- Graduate level, design/creative/textile background or equivalent preferable.
- Excellent creative and commercial ability; an eye for product and brand
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Previous experience in a Junior Buyer or Buyer role
- What we’ll offer you
At The White Company, we value our employees for always going the extra mile for every one of our customers; we reward this with great benefits and competitive salaries.
- Discount -Up to 50% discount and access to regular Sample Sales
- Holiday - 25 days rising to 28 with length of service
- Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to 5 days holiday
- Pension Scheme - enrolled in our Group Personal Pension schemes upon joining the business.
- 20% Bonus Potential - In addition to our competitive salaries, all our employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme (based on policy eligibility)
- Wagestream Money Management app - access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing
- Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub
- Salary Sacrifice scheme for Electric vehicles (dependent on grade and meeting policy eligibility)
- Private Healthcare (based on contract duration)
- Life Assurance
- White City House (Soho House Group)Tenants Membership at a discounted rate, offering access to facilities in the House
- Additional Benefits
- Fruit basket daily
- Tea and coffee provided
- Working from Home - option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays
- Social - Christmas party/social events throughout the year
- Seasonal Sample Sales
- Volunteer Day - with a charity of your choice
- Great Location - Close to transport links - over ground Shepherds Bush station /underground White City & Wood Lane stations.
- Westfield shopping centre with shops restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms
- Our Equality Diversity and Inclusion statement of commitment
At the White company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities.
We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated.
Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated.
We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process.
We'd love you to join us on our journey.
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Buyer – Home employer: The-White-Company
The White Company is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where teamwork and communication are valued. Located in Birmingham, employees benefit from comprehensive training, opportunities for personal growth, and a rewarding environment that prioritises employee well-being with attractive discount benefits. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that ensures our customers receive the best products while enjoying a fulfilling work experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer – Home
✨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-White-Company, 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-White-Company!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer – Home
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-White-Company, 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-White-Company 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-White-Company that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at The-White-Company
✨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!
