ASSISTANT BUYER – Art & Pens
Based; Swindon (with hybrid working)
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.
We now have an exciting opportunity for a highly creative and proactive Assistant Buyer to join our High Street Art & Pens team, working in our Support Centre in Swindon.
The main purpose of an Assistant Buyer is to work alongside the Buying Manager, and Buyer, supporting the management and delivery of the strategy for the category, providing data insight and analysis on the range performance and helping to facilitate promotional plans. You will be working with large well known branded suppliers, new innovative brands and our own brand sourcing office to develop a trading plan on this key and strategic category.
This is a great opportunity to start your buying career, to learn and develop within one of the leading buying teams in the industry.

What you will be doing

• Assist the Buyer in generating new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income
• Support with the management of new and existing projects
• Manage effective relationships with suppliers
• Keep abreast of design and market trends.
• Review competitor activity to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering
• Ensure the smooth running of promotions and comply with promotional deadlines
• Take accountability and support the team on various projects

What we are looking for

• You will have a basic understanding of business (i.e. buying and stock)
• You will be analytical and have a head for figures as this role is data driven
• You will have experience in new product development (or creative background)
• A highly organised multitasker, with a keen eye for detail, accuracy and achieving deadlines
• Someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who is hungry to succeed and make an impact
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel (if you can use pivot tables and VLOOKUPS, that would be advantageous)

How we reward our teams

• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family friendly leave
• Company pension
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and Personal Performance
• Competitive salary
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us
Celebrating 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.
WHSmith have occupied our place as the Hub of the High Street and in our customers’ hearts since 1792. Across our diverse estate of over 500 stores on UK high streets, with our wide-ranging store sizes and formats, we sell a large range of products including stationery, greeting cards, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, books and drinks. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture.
At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here.
We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help

• Assist the Buyer in generating new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income
• Support with the management of new and existing projects
• Manage effective relationships with suppliers
• Keep abreast of design and market trends.
• Review competitor activity to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering
• Ensure the smooth running of promotions and comply with promotional deadlines
• Take accountability and support the team on various project