Assistant Buyer

at  Brown Thomas Arnotts

GET TO KNOW US

At Brown Thomas Arnotts, we are Reinventing Retail. Our purpose is to enrich our customer’s lives, which we achieve by living our values – Going Above and Beyond, Driving Creativity and Innovation, and Doing the Right Thing. We are one business with two iconic brands, bringing exciting experience to life through our digital and physical destinations. Our customer engagement sets the bar in service and experiential retail, giving our customers something to love every time.

KNOW WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

• 3-4 years’ experience working in a fast paced buying office
• Demonstrate commercial acumen
• Proven track record of managing relationships
• Proficient in excel
• Strong influencing skills

KNOW WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

We believe that every team member should have the opportunity to curate a meaningful career that enhances professional and personal development. That is why we foster a culture of belonging and inclusiveness where your voice is valuable. A great customer experience starts with a great people experience, and we’re proud to have been recognised by multiple industry bodies for our progressive workplace culture.

As a Brown Thomas Arnotts team member, you will benefit from:

• Competitive Salary
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Team Member discount across the world’s most iconic brands
• Recognition Days for Volunteering & Wellbeing
• Wellbeing Initiatives
• Extensive Learning & Development Offerings
• Leading Talent Programmes
• Flexible Working Model
• Additional Benefits

KNOW HOW WE WORK

Experience is our business: Our customer engagement sets the bar in service and experiential retail, giving our customers something to love every time.
We Are More Than Shops: We create enjoyable places, to excite, where people socialise, discover, learn and are inspired, and where local communities are enriched.
We are Curators: Our unique range of product and services are key to the sense of excitement that Brown Thomas Arnotts is renowned for, whether for a special day or every day, things that make our customer’s lives better.
We Care for Our People: We believe a great customer experience starts with a great people experience. That is why we promote a culture where talent is nurtured and where creativity and learning are valued.
We Succeed by Working Sustainably: We are community-focused and our aim is to cultivate retail environments that are conscious, considerate and commercial.

Working with our Womenswear Category you will use your knowledge to assist the Senior Buyer in the sourcing of Brown Thomas Arnotts products. You will be negotiating with suppliers; therefore we are looking for someone with resilience to secure the very best terms for our destinations. You will build strong relationship with key stakeholders within the store, using their insights as well as your own trend research to determine which brands are performing well and make recommendations on where we take our ranges next. This is a full-time, maternity leave contract position.

• Working under the direction of the Senior Buyer, to assist with budget and margin targets, range planning and building as well as day to day job requirements involved in the Womenswear Division
• Work with the Senior Buyer to set mark-up targets, markdown rates and selling prices for merchandise in order to achieve gross margin targets
• Preparation of Weekly Trade update in a timely manner, reviewing the previous week’s sales, reporting on the best and worst sellers, using initiative to suggest and follow up with action
• Pre-season planning of the buy (e.g. Pull wash up notes / Markdown Data from previous season, Research themes and trends, & Build OTB Sheets)
• Schedule and Planning of Buying Trips & Appointments
• Ensuring necessary appointment preparation done including Liaising with relevant other functions to ensure any necessary data collated e.g. Marketing reports/ CRM reports etc.
• Attending trade shows home/abroad & Supplier meetings, recording actions and ensuring all follow up is done
• Formulating summary of Market Trends observed following market appointments
• Building Story Boards & Seasonal Product Calendar / Catalogue for internal use to present to relevant parties in immediate team
• and throughout the business so that they are informed of key trends, what is new and the selected product detail
• Preparing presentations / slides when necessary
• Calculating, and managing Debit notes for supplier support / coordinating with Buyers Assistant to support
• Coordinating with Buyers Assistant, to make sure that the critical path is running smoothly and to ensure Products are available in a timely manner
• Monitoring market and customer activity via competitive shops, sales and trend analysis
• Work closely with the Marketing Team to develop and appropriate marketing strategy, and supporting to ensure that your department is well represented in press, magazines, PR etc. and that you have marketing support from brands
• Work with the Online team to develop and grow the range available on the website. Build the relationship with Ecommerce to ensure the correct set up of new products and promotions. Ensure products and Brands are accurately represented
• Be a team player and work with the wider buying team on the detail of seasonal product presentations both instore and to the press
• Ensure that all product details within the merchandise management system are properly maintained and resolve any discrepancies where necessary
• Liaise with the Finance Team to ensure suppliers are set up on the system and managed
• In addition to supporting Buyer on Full Category, the Assistant Buyer assumes responsibility and accountability of own Category for measure which includes: Range building to cover the category, Assortment planning for the category, Negotiating the best deal in terms of trade discount, settlement terms and transport arrangements for merchandise to maintain Best Margin and generate profit from this category
• Support the management of the continuity stock holding. Ensuring stock is regularly reviewed and replenished to optimise stock cover
• Action continuity replenishment orders in a timely manner to ensure a regular flow of core stock into the business
• Support with the management and development of the buying assistants within the divisio

Working with our Womenswear Category you will use your knowledge to assist the Senior Buyer in the sourcing of Brown Thomas Arnotts products. You will be negotiating with suppliers; therefore we are looking for someone with resilience to secure the very best terms for our destinations. You will build strong relationship with key stakeholders within the store, using their insights as well as your own trend research to determine which brands are performing well and make recommendations on where we take our ranges next. This is a full-time, maternity leave contract position.

• Working under the direction of the Senior Buyer, to assist with budget and margin targets, range planning and building as well as day to day job requirements involved in the Womenswear Division
• Work with the Senior Buyer to set mark-up targets, markdown rates and selling prices for merchandise in order to achieve gross margin targets
• Preparation of Weekly Trade update in a timely manner, reviewing the previous week’s sales, reporting on the best and worst sellers, using initiative to suggest and follow up with action
• Pre-season planning of the buy (e.g. Pull wash up notes / Markdown Data from previous season, Research themes and trends, & Build OTB Sheets)
• Schedule and Planning of Buying Trips & Appointments
• Ensuring necessary appointment preparation done including Liaising with relevant other functions to ensure any necessary data collated e.g. Marketing reports/ CRM reports etc.
• Attending trade shows home/abroad & Supplier meetings, recording actions and ensuring all follow up is done
• Formulating summary of Market Trends observed following market appointments
• Building Story Boards & Seasonal Product Calendar / Catalogue for internal use to present to relevant parties in immediate team
• and throughout the business so that they are informed of key trends, what is new and the selected product detail
• Preparing presentations / slides when necessary
• Calculating, and managing Debit notes for supplier support / coordinating with Buyers Assistant to support
• Coordinating with Buyers Assistant, to make sure that the critical path is running smoothly and to ensure Products are available in a timely manner
• Monitoring market and customer activity via competitive shops, sales and trend analysis
• Work closely with the Marketing Team to develop and appropriate marketing strategy, and supporting to ensure that your department is well represented in press, magazines, PR etc. and that you have marketing support from brands
• Work with the Online team to develop and grow the range available on the website. Build the relationship with Ecommerce to ensure the correct set up of new products and promotions. Ensure products and Brands are accurately represented
• Be a team player and work with the wider buying team on the detail of seasonal product presentations both instore and to the press
• Ensure that all product details within the merchandise management system are properly maintained and resolve any discrepancies where necessary
• Liaise with the Finance Team to ensure suppliers are set up on the system and managed
• In addition to supporting Buyer on Full Category, the Assistant Buyer assumes responsibility and accountability of own Category for measure which includes: Range building to cover the category, Assortment planning for the category, Negotiating the best deal in terms of trade discount, settlement terms and transport arrangements for merchandise to maintain Best Margin and generate profit from this category
• Support the management of the continuity stock holding. Ensuring stock is regularly reviewed and replenished to optimise stock cover
• Action continuity replenishment orders in a timely manner to ensure a regular flow of core stock into the business
• Support with the management and development of the buying assistants within the division