Assistant Buyer

Peacocks is a leading fashion family value retailer in the UK with a portfolio of over 400 stores in the UK and 200 international locations in 18 countries with a top 100 UK website in the Internet retailing 2016 Top 500 list. With a strong footfall and millions of page views a week online it’s an exciting and fast‑paced environment to work in; we’re growing at a great rate and aim to be a leading fashion multi‑channel retailer as we rapidly grow our channels but retain onto our core company principals and family values

The role of an Assistant Buyer is to assist the buyer to source, develop, buy and deliver a specific range of products at the right cost, right time and right place to achieve the Company’s gross profit. Performing to the required competencies within the Buying Development Programme

Responsibilities and objectives for

1. General Administration

• Accurately and promptly raise orders utilising internal systems
• Effectively communicate via email and telephone in an appropriate manner
• Ensure understanding, accuracy and compliance when utilising internal systems including Freeboarders and Product manager

2. Critical Path

• Take ownership to manage the Critical Path to ensure information is accurate, up to date and deliveries are on time
• Effectively communicates across the team and suppliers on any issues, proposes solutions and updates accordingly
• Demonstrates clear understanding of the manufacturing process for each supplier and product type

3. Sample Management

• Chase and manage samples to ensure they are kept tidy and correctly labelled to be available promptly for fit sessions, best sellers, press and promotional meetings as required

4. Quality Assurance (QA)

• Chase and prioritise samples for fit sessions in line with the Critical Path
• Drive fit sessions with Critical Path information in Buyers absence and ensure samples are accurate to match with order requirements
• Demonstrates knowledge of product construction and testing and their impact on the fit process
• Undertake regular benchmarking to keep up to date with competitor activity and proposes opportunities to Buyer to assist with range development
• Demonstrate understanding of customer profile to actively contribute to research of new trends, colours and themes
• Review and analyse best and worst sellers to be able to present findings and action plan to Buyer and team
• Discuss findings from benchmarking and sales report by identifying and suggesting opportunities to Buyer as part of proposed action plan
• Demonstrate clear understanding of store grading and product mix
• Continually communicates with suppliers about the status of orders, lab dips and samples to ensure achievement of the Critical Path
• Continue to develop knowledge of all aspects of supplier base
• Prepare and participate in supplier meeting with Buyer recording accurate minutes as required
• Applies knowledge of strengths and weaknesses of supplier base to question and influence them appropriately
• Begin to participate in negotiation with suppliers and internal contacts in order to influence decisions
• Negotiate cost prices, understanding any implications on the department margin as directed by Buyer

7. Principles of Merchandising

• Demonstrates a clear understanding of the department performance including LFL sales and budget
• Understands the working processes and systems utilised by Merchandisers
• Works alongside Assistant Merchandiser to review and analyse weekly sales report, and to present identified risks and propose any opportunities to Buyer and Merchandiser

8. Range Building and Production Selection

• Assists Buyer on Production selection, offering proactive thoughts and ideas
• Utilise and interpret information to make appropriate suggestions to Buyer from benchmarking and comp shops and to impact upon own range
• Develop skills that will support taking greater responsibility for own area within the department whilst making proposals as agreed with Buyer

The Successful Candidate will have:

• A broad-based understanding of all aspects of the buying process: quality assurance, merchandising and selection.

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