Assistant Buyer

We're the feel-good fashion brand making style accessible and fun for over 55 years, on our website, mobile app and over 300 stores in the UK.

By living our values - we play to win, customer obsessed, we are one and it starts with me - we deliver That New Look Feeling for our customers and each other.

THE ROLE: 2x Assistant Buyer roles on Knitwear/Dresses

Buying is the department that brings together creative inspiration & commercial planning to deliver the best ranges for our customer. Product is at the heart of everything we do, from developing the best prints for dresses, the must have coat of the season or the 'It' bag. Always thinking 'customer first' we work hard with our suppliers in the UK & across the world to deliver fashion at amazing prices & as quickly as possible. Buying is fast paced and exciting & every day is unique.

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers
• Private pension scheme
• Profit related bonus scheme
• Option to join our Healthcare Private Medical Scheme
• Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave.
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING :

Planning

• Sound understanding of the Business Strategy and how that impacts your Department
• Applying knowledge of the current competitive market place and trends, and inputting into the direction of the department
• Solid understanding of the Department's current Customer insights, Market Share and opportunities
• Working in conjunction with Marketing and Ecommerce, supporting with Windows and Photo Shoots
• Assisting in Department Strategy Planning preparation

Buying

• Assist the Product Development process from Design brief to launch, liaising with Design, Marketing and other relevant departments
• Negotiating the best cost price to achieve departmental margin targets
• Understanding product trends and interpreting them where relevant into product area
• Ensuring input to the Assortment Planning tool and other data / system management, in a timely manner
• Understanding the appropriate sourcing route and Supplier for Product
• Monitoring Critical Path on Commitment to insure intake and distribution targets are met
• Attending Fit sessions in the Buyers absence give styling Comments

Suppliers

• Managing Supplier relationships and KPI's, including monitoring sampling requirements in line with projected levels of business
• Negotiating and liaising with Suppliers

Trading

• Understanding of reports and actions that may need to be taken on Trade
• Managing the critical path, making adaptations (where required) to react to market changes and challenges
• Sharing of information where possible on Product, Suppliers, Best /Worst Sellers within the business area

Product Awareness

• Monitor, maintain and action competitor analysis (comparative shopping)

Team

• Supporting with the development of fellow colleagues, delivering relevant training and support where required
• Collaboratively working with Merchandising, Design and Technical colleagues
• Acting as a positive role model for the Team and peers

WHO YOU ARE :

• Experience at Assistant Buyer level - ideally on knitwear
• Customer knowledge and a strong fashion eye
• Good interpersonal / communication skills
• Ability to support, train and develop the Buying Admin Assistant
• Ability to initiate, build and maintain relationships with Design, Merchandising, QA and Suppliers
• Solid presentation skills
• Risk assessment and SWOT analysis skills
• Numerical and analytical skills

Why New Look?

We care about you and the planet and believe fashion should be a force for positive change. We celebrate inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We're proud of our inclusive culture and our talented team members who embrace our shared purpose, behaviours and values.

We prioritise development, offering training to support your progression, so you can be your absolute best and achieve your goals.

We pride ourselves on being a flexible employer, our colleagues work a range of patterns. If you have a specific pattern in mind, we're keen to discuss this with you in line with the output needed for the role.

Please ensure that your CV is in simple format e.g. Microsoft Word when applying using your CV to ensure smooth application process.