As an Assistant Buyer, you will be supporting the Buyer in sourcing brands and products. You will work with the Buyer to negotiate the best terms for the business with suppliers, ensuring the ordering process is efficient and compliant with Selfridges processes, and assisting the Buying Admin team where necessary.
As Assistant Buyer, you will:
* Support the buyer across our RTW business – ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market.
* Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers, such as margin, trade discounts, and markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate.
* Forge strong partnerships with our brand partners and suppliers.
* Work with the Buyer and Buying Manager to ensure that buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit.
* Monitor and review trade in season, making trading recommendations to the Buyer/Head of Buying where necessary.
* Support the Buyers Admin with weekly trade packs, feeding back and presenting key findings to senior stakeholders.
* Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying.
* Work with the Merchandiser to analyze performance, making recommendations to the Buyer regarding keeping or discontinuing products within the business.
* Communicate effectively with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training.
* Work closely with Marketing and PR to be aware of promotional opportunities during negotiations with suppliers.
* Be responsible for re-ordering, working within the OTB structure, ensuring decisions are communicated to the Administrator in good time.
* Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area.
* Where relevant, supervise the wider team and monitor workload.
* Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimizes the look and performance of the department.
* Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly regarding new season launches and product training.
A bit about you:
* Highly knowledgeable with a well-developed understanding of the product/market.
* RTW Fashion experience.
* Strategic and operational with strong analytical skills and experience driving long-term and profitable commercial strategies.
* Engaging and able to influence your stakeholders, retail and brands, using both data and market trends to drive commercial opportunities.
* Customer-focused, with exceptional taste and instinct to push the boundaries to offer new and exciting products.
* Numerate with a highly commercial approach and proficient in Excel.
* Collaborative, working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team to support projects and cross-functional meetings.
* Organized with attention to detail.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to influence.
* An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague.
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