Assistant Buyer

We’re New Look and we’ve been at the forefront of British high-street fashion since 1969. Over the last 50 years, we’ve grown to be a global, multichannel brand offering on-trend, value-driven fashion for women, men, girls and boys.

Our passion is feel-good fashion at feel-good prices - and we truly believe that all starts with us. Our values inspire us every day: we play to win, we’re customer-obsessed and we work as one to give each and every one of our customers That New Look Feeling.

It's a busy and exciting time for the brand and we’re on the hunt for a Assistant Buyer to join our Brands & Concessions team.

**The Team**

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.

**The Role**

To put the customer requirements at the centre of the brands and concessions offer and sell ranges that offer a point of difference and compliment the core New Look range. To develop and deliver a commercial and profitable range that maximises sales opportunity. Work closely with the Senior Buyer with the objective to build, manage and report on the brands and product offer across the New Look stores and online.. Responsible for ensuring the Critical Path is achieved and that order management and sampling processes run to schedule. Deputises in the absence of the Senior Buyer.

**Role Responsibilities**:

- Understand the New Look Business Strategy and how that impacts on brands and concessions.
- Assist in managing commercial performance of a portfolio of brands and products with a focus on enhancing performance of the customer offer on an ongoing basis and take ownership of a portfolio of smaller brands. Working in conjunction with other teams in the business to maximise sales i.e. marketing and ecommerce, supporting with windows and photo shoots.
- Assisting in department strategy planning preparation.
- Identify new brands, new trends and new products for stores and online.
- Assist Buyer in selecting product to create the brands and concessions offer.
- Building and maintaining positive relationships with brand partners and responding promptly to queries
- Manage order confirmations and ensure range plan is maintained
- Full understanding of the principles of OTB
- Assist Senior Buyer in planning and launching new products with a view of maximising performance of all launches.
- Ensure all launch trackers are updated and key information provided to marketing and ecom for new brand launches / new categories.
- Manage performance of underperforming products through communications internally and with brand partners, with Buyer
- Demonstrates good negotiation skills with suppliers to achieve departmental margins, agrees revised deliveries / cost price with suppliers after checking with managers.
- Understanding product trends and interpreting them where relevant into product areas.
- Monitoring critical path on commitment to ensure intake and distribution targets are met.
- 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. Demonstrates commercial awareness and impacts of delays in critical path and actions required to maintain maximum profitability.
- Sharing of information where possible on product, suppliers, best /worst sellers within the business area. Understanding of reports and actions that may need to be taken on trade.
- Monitor, maintain and action competitor analysis (comparative shopping).
- Day to day management and on the job training, coaching of BAA ensuring all tasks are completed within the deadline by supporting if required.

**About You**:

- 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
- Previous experience as a Buying Admin Assistant / Assistant Buyer within a major retailer / department within New Look

**_Why New Look?_**

The amazing people, the love of fashion, the 4pm Friday finishes - there are so many reasons to love working at New Look. We prioritise development, offering training to support your progression, so you can be at your absolute best and achieve your goals. You’ll also receive these amazing benefits, to name only a few:
40% staff discount
Monthly 25% off privilege vouchers for family and f