Assistant Buyer - Ladieswear Altrincham, WA14 5GZ Full time – 37.5 hours per week Competitive Salary Who are Cotton Traders? Cotton Traders is a British clothing retailer established in 1987 by England rugby captain and legends Fran Cotton and Steve Smith. Supported by a growing online and offline (catalogue) presence, we have 80 stores nationwide in England, Scotland and Wales and employee 800 people across the country. We have an ambitious plan to grow the business across all touch points and we can only do this with the best people around us. Our vision and our values are what make us unique, and they are deeply ingrained in everything we do here at Cotton Traders. Our people are part of the fabric that makes us what we are, and when you’re as passionate about your people as we are, job satisfaction and career progression come hand in hand. What’s in the role and what are we looking for? We are recruiting for an Assistant Buyer to join our Ladieswear Buying department. The successful candidate will work closely to support the Buyer and wider team to ensure that sales, stock and margin targets are achieved. You will have bundles of passion and energy to successfully drive and contribute to our ranges. Some of the key responsibilities include: Build a relationship with suppliers as well as Buying, Merchandising and Technology teams demonstrating good communication skills. Engage with the Creative, Marketing and Ecommerce teams to ensure productive relationships. Assist the Buyer to adapt styles relevant to your area, ensuring regular competitive comp shops are completed to support any suggestions Lead critical path meetings within the team, including presenting to the Buyer and Buying Manager. Being proactive by highlighting any potential issues and reacting quickly. Develop a range with the Buyer to attract our target customer, ensuring the best price and quality. Analysis of sales and performance for direct and retail, to enable trade reactions to be implemented where required. All day-to-day administration required to assist the Buyer and ensure the efficient buying of product. Being commercially aware of our competitors and their seasonal product and price changes. Highly organised and keep on top of key diary dates coming up, to ensure deadlines are met. Management of trainee assistant buyer delegating workload to help with running the department efficiently The Successful Candidate will: Have 1 – 2 years’ experience at Assistant Buyer level. Natural ability to identify future fashion trends and a real passion for product. Have an in-depth knowledge of the current market. Have an eye for detail Strong communication skills Microsoft office skills, especially Excel Experience in fashion buying is essential Some knowledge of basic fabrics preferred Experience working with print, preferred What’s on offer? We are protective and proud in equal measure of our culture and suggest you take a look at our values on our web-site to gain a better understanding of life at CT. Once you’re part of the team, you’ll be rewarded with, alongside other things:- Flexible working culture, adopting a hybrid working approach 25 days holiday rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays Your CT, benefits, rewards and recognition platform Holiday purchase scheme 50% staff discount Employee Assistant Programme Health cash plan Long service awards Next steps If you are interested in the excellent opportunity on offer, we would love to hear more from you Please click apply and send your CV through, along with a covering letter on why you would be a great fit for the role.