Buying Assistant, Health & Beauty Wholesale Retail Southampton 15 month Fixed Term Contract Up to £25,000 plus package The opportunity Do you keep up to date with all thing’s Health & Beauty? Do you love buying and merchandising and want to progress your career? Do you have a real passion for product & a love of numbers? If YES, we may have the role for you … We are searching for a candidate with a merchandising or buying admin background to join a growing Health & Beauty wholesale retailer with a wide brand portfolio, supplying to the grocery & pharmacy sector. What will my accountabilities be ? Working very closely with the sales team, you will be responsible for buying & merchandising of a range of health & beauty brands. The role will include: - Managing each stage of the buying process including product selection, negotiation, forecasting, monitoring sales to ensure stock levels are kept at appropriate levels & gathering new line form information to set up new lines & launch. Analysing market trends and carrying out competitive analysis to help identify and suggest new product ranges. Running weekly / monthly reports to analyse performance & make improvements to product ranges. Monitoring sales to ensure stock levels are kept at appropriate levels and attending weekly meetings to update the buying department on stock levels / out of stocks & tracking orders and monitoring all open purchase orders to ensure timely delivery. Managing, maintaining & developing relationships with suppliers & negotiating with them for the best pricing. Managing all the administration associated with the brands for which they are responsible. Attending monthly buyer and product meetings in which new product ranges are presented to the Board of Directors. UK and European travel to attend trade shows and supplier meetings. Who will I be working with ? The MD, the Buying Director and his team, the sales team and suppliers. A great candidate will have ? Entry level buying or merchandising admin experience. A real passion for product. Really strong attention to detail and admin skills. A team player with good interpersonal skills – able to build & manage relationships with colleagues & suppliers. Commerciality and able to keep up to date and aware of market trends, changes in demand. Enjoys presenting to colleagues & the senior team. In return for everything you can bring, we can offer you: Salary up to £25,000 ( depending on experience ) 21 days holiday plus bank holidays 5 days in the office (8.30am-5.00pm) Flexi hours available Scottish Widows pension Scheme The Process? If this sounds like you & you would like to hear more, please share a copy of your CV with Suzanne Farrin, Suzanne.farrinmackenziejones.co.uk First Stage: 1 hour face to face meeting with the Buying Director and the Buying Controller Second Stage: 1 hour face to face meeting with the MD People are at the heart of everything we do. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process that means people can be their best authentic self. We would love to reply to all applications, regrettably we are unable to do so due to the high volumes we receive, so if you do not hear back within 14 days unfortunately on this role it won’t be progressing. It is possible that the position could be in the process of closing, so chalk it up to bad timing. But, have no fear There will be more opportunities. Follow us at Mackenzie Jones Recruitment so you don’t miss them.