Assistant Buyer - Contemporary Concessions

Job Introduction

Are you looking for a new challenge in Selfridges that gives you the chance to support the Womenswear Buying team in sourcing brands and product?  Looking for a company that wants to help further your career in buying, as well as provide you with an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work?

If the answer to all these questions is ‘yes’ then you’re just the kind of person we’re looking for!

Role Responsibility

As an Assistant Buyer, you will be responsible for our Womens Contemporary Concessions department, supporting the Buyer in sourcing brands and product. You will work with the Buyer to negotiate the best terms for the business with suppliers. To ensure the ordering process is efficient and compliant with Selfridges processes and to assist the Buying Admin team where necessary. As Assistant Buyer, you will:

• Be responsible for buying for a identified area for the business – ensuring thorough knowledge of product and market
• Negotiate the best possible terms with suppliers i.e. margin, trade discounts, markdown support, working with the Buyer and Head of Buying where appropriate
• Work with the Buyer and Head of Buying to ensure that Buying decisions are based on a sound commercial framework to drive sales and profit
• Work closely with the Buyer and Merchandiser to plan the OTB for own area of responsibility and to monitor and review in season, making recommendations to the Buyer/Head of Buying where necessary.
• Assist with range planning, working closely with the Merchandiser and Buyer/Head of Buying 
• Work with the Merchandiser to analyse performance, making recommendations to the Buyer i.e. to keep or discontinue 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 and 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 good time *
• Carry out research into key trends and put together look books for the area*
• Where relevant, to supervise the wider team and monitor workload
• Work closely with VM to ensure product placement optimises the look and performance of the department
• Manage the performance of concession businesses through regular meeting with the concession and through analysis of their performance – making recommendations to Buyer where relevant
• Ensure effective communication with retail operations teams, particularly with regard to new season launches and product training

* N/B: in areas where there is a Buyer’s Assistant and an Assistant Buyer, this responsibility will be shared

The Ideal Candidate

• Highly knowledgeable. You will have a well-developed understanding of the product/market​
• Strategic and operational. With strong analytical skills and experience driving long-term and profitable commercial strategies, you’ll be able to successfully manage projects through to completion. â€‹
• Engaging and interpersonal. You will be able to influence your stakeholders, retail and brands, you know how to use both data and market trends to drive commercial opportunities â€‹
• Customer focused. Combined with exceptional taste and instinct, you are able to push the boundaries to offer new and exciting product​
• All over the numbers. You are numerate with a highly commercial approach, as well as proficient in excel​
• Collaborative. Working flexibly as part of the wider Buying team you will support in projects and cross functional meetings as appropriate
• Organised with exceptional attention to detail

About the Company

Our Creative Spirit 

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome. 

Our Awards Cabinet 

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times.

Our Future 

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences. 

Everyone is welcome

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive working culture, and we see this as key to our success and our working culture. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome - irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all. We are diverse, we are inclusive, we are Selfridges.

The Fun Stuff  

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year. 

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme 
• Discounted gym memberships 
• Pension contributions  
• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes 
• Up to five paid volunteering days
• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development