At a Glance
- Tasks: Oversee Home & Lifestyle buying, driving sales and optimising inventory.
- Company: Dynamic company focused on innovative home products and lifestyle.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a vibrant team culture.
- Other info: Join a diverse team that values creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the home furnishings market while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and a passion for home products.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
The prospective candidate will oversee the Home & Lifestyle buying across both DTC and WHSL Channels. This role supports the development and execution of seasonal assortments across Home categories, partnering cross-functionally to drive sales, optimize inventory, and uphold the brand's elevated aesthetic across all channels.
From the assortment strategy and product selection to the investment build and OTB management, the candidate will be expected to balance magic and logic, product and numbers, to optimise brand elevation and deliver commercial success.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES- Assortment Strategy and Product Selection
- Synthesise, evaluate, and summarize performance analysis on a seasonal basis.
- Build and develop a strong understanding of the Home customer, through regular competitor shops, store visits and wider market read.
- Utilise learnings to formulate sound product strategies that are in line with financial plans, departmental expectations, and overarching company goals.
- Devise an assortment selection that will deliver such strategies, optimise brand elevation, and secure commercial success.
- Liaise regularly with key stakeholders across the business to ensure the go-to-market strategies are executed as intended.
- Investment Build and OTB management
- Work closely with Planning counterparts to balance the OTB and Revenue KPIs, ensuring the financial framework for categories is optimised yet achievable.
- Project unit requirements that will deliver the financial framework and balance such KPIs (intake margin, buy cost/units, AIR, gross margin, sales revenue/units, AUR, sell-through).
- Trade all categories on a weekly basis; Identify areas of risk and opportunity, and drive decisions that will optimise success and re-balance inventory levels where needed.
- Team Input
- Coach and nurture junior members of the wider team, utilizing your leadership skills to enhance the full team.
- Work closely across the wider teams to maintain a strong X Brand, omni-channel, omni-region proposition to the end consumer.
- Collaborate and build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the business, to ensure goals are clear, supported and executed as planned.
- Strong numeric and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize data and identify actions and commercial opportunities accordingly.
- Product focused, with the ability to demonstrate commercial, trend, competitor, and brand awareness.
- Highly organized, with the ability to prioritize workload for self and others.
- Articulate, with the ability to communicate well in both verbal and non-verbal communication forms.
- Influential leadership and team building skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire direct business partners and a wider business audience.
- Resilient, with the ability to see challenge as opportunity, think with a solution-based mindset, yet raise concerns in a confident manner.
- Champion of diversity and psychological safety, with the ability to recognize the value of different perspectives and cultures, while creating a climate that fosters empathy, integrity, authenticity and trust.
- Proficient in Microsoft packages including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Interest in product, craftsmanship, and the home furnishings market.
Buyer - Home & Lifestyle - London employer: What Jobs
As a Buyer for Home & Lifestyle in London, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work environment that champions creativity and innovation. Our company prioritises employee growth through mentorship and cross-functional partnerships, ensuring you have the tools and support to excel in your role. With a commitment to diversity and a culture that values unique perspectives, we offer a rewarding career path in one of the world's most vibrant cities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer - Home & Lifestyle - 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 What Jobs, 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 What Jobs!
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer - Home & Lifestyle - 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 What Jobs, 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 What Jobs 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 What Jobs that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at What Jobs
✨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!
