At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stylish menswear collections that resonate with customers and boost brand visibility.
- Company: Join a leading lifestyle brand known for its innovative approach and dynamic team.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, career growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on creativity and teamwork.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of fashion, shaping trends and making impactful decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying or merchandising, with strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Polo Menswear Buyer is responsible for developing commercially successful, brand-elevating assortments for the EMEA wholesale channel. The role manages the end-to-end buying process across assigned categories, from assortment strategy, product selection, pricing, forecasting, investment planning, sell-in preparation, and market support through to trading and performance review. Combining strong product knowledge, customer and account understanding, regional awareness, and analytical judgment, the Buyer delivers ranges that support financial targets, strengthen the Polo brand position, and align with the wider EMEA Menswear strategy. The role partners closely with Planning and Inventory Management, Brand Presentation, Product Design and Merchandising, and Regional Sales teams to translate seasonal product strategies from concept to execution.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Build seasonal Polo Menswear wholesale assortments that reflect brand priorities, customer needs, regional opportunities, account feedback, and financial objectives.
- Select and manage commercially balanced, brand-appropriate ranges across assigned categories, balancing core, seasonal, newness, big bets, label mix, SKU productivity, and delivery flow.
- Partner with Planning to manage category plans, OTB, wholesale value, units, investment levels, pricing, forecasting, availability, and market readiness.
- Use sell-in, sell-out, account performance, margin, inventory, customer feedback, competitor insight, and hindsight analysis to identify risks, opportunities, and future assortment actions.
- Prepare and maintain accurate line lists, paginations, SKU requests, assortment tools, NuORDER information, purchase orders, and account planning outputs.
- Present assortment strategy, product rationale, key bets, and commercial recommendations for line opening, market, account planning, sign-off, and business reviews.
- Collaborate with Planning, Corporate Merchandising, Regional Sales Teams, Marketing, Merchandising Operations, and market teams while contributing to process improvements and stronger ways of working.
EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
- Previous experience in Buying, Merchandising, or Sales is key to the role, ideally within a wholesale, retail, or premium lifestyle brand environment.
- Strong understanding of the end-to-end wholesale buying process, including assortment building, pricing, forecasting, purchase order management, line presentation, market preparation, account planning, and seasonal calendar milestones.
- Commercial awareness and a strong understanding of Polo Menswear customers, wholesale account needs, product trends, competitor activity, customer archetypes, regional differences, and EMEA market dynamics.
- Strong numeric and analytical capability, with confidence interpreting wholesale value, units, sell-in, sell-out, margin, inventory, availability, sell-through, account productivity, and category performance data.
- Ability to build assortments across core, seasonal, concept, label, and category dimensions while balancing brand elevation, commerciality, and productivity.
- Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple seasonal milestones, stakeholder requests, market deadlines, and account planning deliverables.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders, present assortments, explain commercial recommendations, and tell a clear product story.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with strong working knowledge of Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, NuORDER, and relevant buying, planning, reporting, or sell-in systems.
- Fluent English; additional European languages are an advantage depending on regional and account scope.
- One-Team mindset, with proven ability to work well with others, build authentic working relationships, and collaborate, support, and nurture without prompt.
Buyer Wholesale Menswear - London employer: What Jobs
As a Buyer for Wholesale Menswear in London, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment that champions creativity and innovation. Our company offers competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and a vibrant work culture that values teamwork and diversity. With opportunities to engage with various departments and influence product strategies, you will play a crucial role in shaping the Polo brand while enjoying the unique advantages of working in one of the world's most iconic cities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buyer Wholesale Menswear - London
✨Get to Know the Industry Events
Dive into wholesale distribution trade shows and local industry meet-ups. These events are gold mines for networking and can even lead to job leads. Plus, getting face time with companies like What Jobs can make you stand out!
✨Connect with Industry Professionals
Join online forums and communities specific to wholesale distribution. Places like LinkedIn groups or industry-specific Slack channels can put you in touch with insiders who know about the latest job openings at companies like What Jobs before they even get posted.
✨Tailor Your Approach to Distribution Roles
When you apply for full-time roles, make sure your interactions highlight your understanding of supply chain management and logistics. Companies like What Jobs want to see that you get the bigger picture and can contribute to their efficiency!
✨Follow Up Like a Pro
After you've sent in your application, don't be shy! Follow up with a brief message to express your enthusiasm for the role. This not only shows initiative but keeps your name fresh in the minds of recruiters at What Jobs.
We think you need these skills to ace Buyer Wholesale Menswear - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Distribution Know-How:For a role in wholesale distribution, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with supply chain management or logistics. Make sure to detail any relevant projects or roles on your CV that show you understand how products move from point A to point B efficiently.
Quantify Your Achievements:When crafting your CV, don’t just list tasks; instead, focus on achievements that can be quantified. For example, mention how you increased delivery efficiency by a percentage or managed a specific number of vendors. Numbers stand out and prove you can make a difference at What Jobs.
Tailored Cover Letter Approach:In your cover letter, express why you're passionate about wholesale distribution and what excites you about the specific challenges at What Jobs. Show us you’ve done some research on the company, and mention any values or initiatives they have that resonate with you.
Highlight Team Collaboration Skills:Since wholesale distribution often requires working closely with teams, emphasise your teamwork skills in your application. Include examples of how you’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues, suppliers, or stakeholders to improve operations or resolve issues.
How to prepare for a job interview at What Jobs
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
In the wholesale distribution sector, being able to analyse market trends and inventory data is key. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled inventory management issues or implemented solutions that improved efficiency; this will show What Jobs that you can handle the analytical side of the role.
✨Know Your Logistics Inside Out
Since logistics play a massive part in wholesale distribution, it's vital to familiarise yourself with the tools and software used in the industry, like ERP systems or supply chain management platforms. Mention any experience you have with these tools during the interview to impress What Jobs.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that revolve around real-life situations in wholesale distribution, such as how you'd handle supply chain disruptions or manage relationships with suppliers. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies on these topics to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Long-Term Potential
As you're applying for a full-time role, What Jobs will want to see your commitment to growing within the organisation. Be ready to discuss your career aspirations and how this role aligns with your goals, emphasising that you are in it for the long haul!