Buying Assistant (NEXT Wholly Owned Brands)

Location | Head Office, Tottenham Court Road, London

About The Role

The Buying Assistant provides essential administrative and operational support to the Buying and Merchandising teams. This role plays a key part in ensuring a smooth product journey and delivering an inspirational, authoritative, and profitable assortment for our customers.

Product and Range Management

• Act as the guardian of the critical path, liaising with suppliers to ensure it is up to date and stock is delivered in a timely manner.
• your Assistant Merchandiser/ Merchandiser with collating sales reporting, general administration, and analysis.
• Ensure item numbers and purchase orders are raised and approved in a timely manner

Trading & Insight

• Identify trends and review sales performance for your department categories.
• Collaborate with the Buying department on your category, working with the Buying Assistant to drive forward trade.
• Build relationships with suppliers, serving as the go-to person for any queries around stock intake.
• Work as part of a strong team, collaborating with the buying department on your category, working with the Buying Assistant to drive forward trade.

About You

You might already have experience as a Buying Assistant or in a fashion or retail environment, or you could be looking for an opportunity to take the next step towards a career in Buying. You don’t need to know everything on day one – we’re looking for genuine fashion passion, commercial curiosity and the drive to learn.

• Lives and breathes fashion – curious about trends, brands, products and what customers will want next.
• Has a commercial eye – interested in what’s selling, competitors and what makes a product work for the customer.
• Loves product and detail – from fabrics and fit through to how a product looks, feels and lands with the customer.
• Is organised, hands-on and resilient – able to manage multiple priorities, solve problems and keep things moving in a fast-paced environment.
• Is collaborative and curious – confident sharing ideas, enjoys working with others and is keen to learn and build a career in Buying.
• Fashion degree, retail or store experience is beneficial, but we’re interested in your potential as well as your experience.

What We Can Offer You

This isn’t just an administrative role. It’s an opportunity to get close to the product and learn how a fashion range is created, developed and traded. You’ll work alongside experienced Buyers and Merchandisers and gain exposure to everything from product development and samples through to competitor activity, trade meetings and commercial decision-making.

You’ll develop skills across critical path management, product development, trend analysis, competitor shopping, presenting and commercial trading, giving you a strong foundation for a career in fashion Buying. You’ll also have the opportunity to work closely with our Buying, Merchandising and Design teams, giving you a broad understanding of how the different teams come together to create a successful product range.

And because you’ll be part of NEXT Wholly Owned Brands, you’ll have the opportunity to work across a portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands, surrounded by people who are encouraged to be curious, challenge convention and bring new ideas to the table.

We want our people to feel rewarded, supported and empowered, both at work and beyond. That’s why we offer a range of benefits, including:

• 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria’s Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
• 10% off most partner brands and up to 15% off Branded Beauty
• Exclusive offers and hot deals from over 3,500 retailers through our online benefits platform
• Company performance-based bonus
• Early VIP access to sale stock through Direct to Desk
• Life assurance
• Annual Travel Card Loan
• Fantastic Learning & Development opportunities
• Flexi-Hour Scheme
• Direct to Work – shop online and in-store, with free next-day collection from your place of work or a local store
• Support Networks – access to network groups that empower, connect and celebrate our people
• Wellhub – discounted, flexible monthly gym memberships, plus access to fitness apps, personal training sessions and more

Who are NEXT Wholly Owned Brands?

At NEXT Wholly Owned Brands, we’re a collective of London-based fashion and lifestyle brands. From our beginnings with Lipsy in 1998, to becoming part of the UK’s largest fashion retailer, NEXT, in 2008 we’ve evolved into a group of bold, design-led brands, each with its unique identity.

At the heart of our business is a passionate team driven by creativity, innovation, and a shared ambition to deliver exceptional results. We foster a culture where individuality is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged, and challenging the status quo is part of how we grow.

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