Assistant Buyer
Summary
The Assistant Buyer develops seasonal product ranges, forecasts demand, and manages supplier relationships to optimize inventory, pricing, and profitability for a global outdoor retail brand. Core tasks include trend analysis, stock reviews, promotional planning, and coordinating product development from design to delivery.
Mountain Warehouse is a rapidly growing global retailer, with over 430 stores across the UK, Ireland, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, alongside a strong and expanding online presence. Since our founding, we’ve built a reputation for offering high-quality outdoor products at great value, supporting customers in enjoying the outdoors wherever they are.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, resourceful, hardworking Assistant Buyer to grow with the company and add value to our team. Experience at an Assistant Buyer level is necessary, as is an exceptional eye for detail, the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships across all areas of the business.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, resourceful, hardworking Assistant Buyer to grow with the company and add value to our team. Experience at an Assistant Buyer level is necessary, as is an exceptional eye for detail, the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships across all areas of the business.
- Assisting in seasonal range plan development - analysing customer buying patterns, forecasting sales and predicting future trends, presenting findings in reports and presentations in a clear and logical format, this will include ratio calculations for size and colour
- Buying for our key territories which include the UK, EU, NA, NZ, AUS
- Work with your Head of buying to maximize profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices.
- Assisting in regularly reviewing stock, sales and orders and react with necessary urgency to ensure sales, stock & profit targets are achieved
- Maintaining relationships with suppliers
- Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed
- Participating in promotional activities, helping the buying and merchandising team to identify slow moving stock, suggesting marks downs or promotions, as well as coordinating promotions and clearance events in store
- Creating style books for products, identify when to update trim labels, fabrications and packaging, and liaise with graphic designer to ensure a consistent brand image
- Managing the critical path, monitoring all orders from initial product development through to delivery, ensuring the smooth running of the development process, maintaining delivery schedules and key deadlines throughout
- Managing sample process ensuring all designs and fabrications are executed correctly, meeting brand requirements
- Lab dip and trim approvals and feeding back to suppliers
- Training and mentoring the BAA in the team
- Approving PTS, for shipments
- Attend fit meetings with QC, making suggestions on fit, styling, trims etc.., as well as signing off sample
- You will have relevant experience at Senior BAA or Assistant Buyer level within an own buy retailer
- Experience of fully managing the critical path for your department
- Be aware of competitors and help to try and keep MW the best value on the high street
- Confident approach to offer suggestions on the type and quantity of product for the department given the budgeted OTB
- Good interpersonal skills – able to build and manage relationships with colleagues and suppliers, communication is key at all times
- Strong IT skills most importantly in Excel or equivalent
- Commercial and keeps up to date and aware of market trends, changes in demand
- Able to fully understand customer needs and demands (e.g. price, quality, availability)
- Strong time management skills and able to prioritize as this is a never-ending job and there will always be more to be done
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Hybrid working, 3 - 4 days in London based office & 1-2 working from home
- Holiday allowance
- 50% staff discount & 25% for family and friends
- Pension scheme