Senior Retail Buyer

Senior Retail Buyer

Welshpool, Powys

Are you a commercially astute Senior Buyer who loves discovering products, building supplier partnerships and making decisions that have a visible impact? Charlies Stores is looking for an entrepreneurial buying leader to take ownership of a successful £12–£13 million category spanning hardware, power tools, garden machinery and agriculture and unlock its next phase of growth.

Charlies is an independent, family-run retailer with a proud heritage, a growing online business and stores serving communities across Wales, Shropshire and Gloucestershire. Known for quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer service, the business offers the pace and opportunity of a major retailer with the freedom, personality and agility of an owner-led company.

The Opportunity

You will have genuine ownership of your category, from product sourcing and range development through to pricing, supplier negotiation, margin and stock performance. Charlies believes that great buyers need room to act: you will be trusted to make commercial calls, learn quickly and treat the category as if it were your own business.

Leading two experienced Buying Assistants, you will bring fresh thinking while taking time to understand what already works. You will receive a supportive handover from a highly experienced colleague and work closely with the Managing Director, fellow Senior Buyers, store teams and supply partners.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Own and grow the hardware, power tools, garden machinery and agriculture category.
• Develop compelling ranges, identify new product opportunities and make confident buying decisions.
• Negotiate effectively with existing and new suppliers to secure the right products, prices and terms.
• Manage category sales, margin, stock and performance, responding quickly to trading opportunities.
• Lead, coach and empower two knowledgeable Buying Assistants.
• Build trusted supplier relationships through regular meetings and at least two supplier visits each week.
• Work closely with store managers to optimise merchandising, product knowledge and in-store execution.
• Source products internationally, including opportunities to travel within Europe two to three times a year and to China around once a year.
• Challenge established ways of working constructively and continuously look for better commercial outcomes.

About You

• An accomplished retail buyer or senior buyer with strong commercial judgement and end-to-end category ownership.
• Relevant buying experience within hardware, tools, machinery, agriculture, home, garden or another fast-paced product-led environment would be preferred.
• A natural negotiator and relationship builder who can drive challenging commercial conversations with integrity.
• Entrepreneurial, curious and confident taking calculated risks—and prepared to own the outcome.
• Analytical enough to understand the numbers, but equally energised by products, customers and the shop floor.
• An engaging, emotionally intelligent leader who develops others and works without ego.
• Comfortable operating at pace, travelling regularly and working predominantly on site in Welshpool but with some flexibility to work from home.

Why Join Charlies?

This is a rare opportunity to join a profitable, ambitious and values-led business where buyers are genuinely empowered. You will have the freedom to shape a substantial category, the support to succeed and the chance to see the direct impact of your decisions in stores and online. The culture is friendly, collaborative and down to earth, with high standards, healthy competition and a strong commitment to work–life balance.

Package & Benefits

• Competitive Base Salary
• Pool cars for business travel or reimbursed travel costs.
• Company pension contributions of 3%/5%.
• Up to 20% employee discount following successful completion of probation.
• Access to more than 100 accredited online development courses.
• Retail Trust membership, including wellbeing support, counselling, legal and financial advice, plus trained mental health first aiders.
• Sick pay allowance.
• Full-time, predominantly based on site in Welshpool but with some flexibility to work from home.

Ready to Make Your Mark?

If you are excited by the freedom to build ranges, grow a significant category and work with a retailer that values judgement, relationships and initiative, we would welcome a confidential conversation about this opportunity.

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