Beauty Buying Manager
Job Introduction
What is the role?
As our Buying Manager, you will support the Director of Beauty Buying to manage our Beauty division. You’ll be instrumental in driving the creative and commercial direction of the category – sourcing new brands and products, negotiating the best terms for Selfridges and ensuring Selfridges remains at the forefront of the beauty industry. You will manage the performance of a defined buying area, leading a team and working cross-functionally to drive sales, optimise profitability, and enhance our unique product offer.
As our Buying Manager you will:
•Work with the Director of Beauty Buying to develop and implement the creative strategy for the Beauty division - focusing on short-term and long-term objectives
•Source new brands and product to ensure that Selfridges maintains a market-leading position, through knowledge and expertise of the product and market
•Negotiate the best possible commercial terms with suppliers, including margin, trade discounts, marketing support
•Secure exclusive brand launches by developing compelling, commercially-led propositions that align with brand objectives and enhances Selfridges’ point of difference
•Drive sales and profitability, ensuring all Buying decisions are grounded in a sound commercial framework
•Work closely with the Merchandise team to plan and monitor the OTB, review in season and take action where necessary.
•Lead on range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser Manager and Buyers
•Manage existing brand performance through regular analysis, making informed decisions on continuity, exit strategies or further investment
•Manage concessions through regular meetings with the concession manager and analysis of performance, making recommendations to keep or discontinue within the business
•Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and support plans
•Work closely with Social Media, Marketing, PR and Digital teams to drive support plans on key brands, along with new and exclusive product launches
•Work closely with Property to ensure new concepts are implemented effectively and meet commercial and creative requirements•Work closely with Retail Management and VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
•Oversee the ordering process, ensuring Buying teams are complying with the ordering processes and supporting the admin team in identifying and dealing with errors
•Lead, develop and coach you’re a team – embedding effective training, succession planning and communication processes
.•Partner with legal team on contract negotiations and concession agreements•Identify and implement new concepts, drive and present CAPEX’s and deliver them in collaboration with the property team
•Support seasonal activity across the business
How you’ll do it…you will be:
•Experienced Buyer level or above, ideally within a premium, luxury or specialist retailer
•Strategic thinker, with the ability to identify opportunities that differentiate and elevate the beauty offer in a competitive market
•Deeply knowledgeable about the beauty industry, with a well-developed understanding of current and emerging trends on both a global and local level
•Proactive in identifying new brands and concepts, with a passion for innovation and bringing fresh ideas to market•Commercially astute and numerate, with a strong understanding of profitability and performance drivers
•Highly skilled in negotiation, communication and presentation
•A strong influencer, with an ability to influence at all levels of the business, driving alignment and support for key commercial initiatives
•A collaborative leader who motivates and develops high-performing teams, fostering positive and inclusive culture•Known for strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage and inspire cross-functional teams
•Passionate about delivering a best-in-class customer experience through exceptional product and service curation
•Experienced in developing and executing long-term category strategies aligned to business goals and brand values
•Confident interpreting data, market insights and performance metrics to inform strategic buying decisions
•Experienced working cross-functionally with marketing, visual merchandising, ecommerce, and supply chain to deliver an integrated retail strategy
•Agile and adaptable in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to respond quickly to trends and business needs
•A proven track record of delivering sales growth and improving margin within a premium or luxury setting•Skilled in building and managing strategic supplier relationships that support long-term commercial success
•Creative and solution-oriented, with the ability to tackle complex challenges and think innovatively
•Highly-organised, forward thinking and able to translate strategic vision into actionable, results-driven plans
•Flexible and adaptable to evolving business needs, with a willingness to take on new challenges as required
Selfridges