Buyer

My client design, manufacturer and supply products within Consumer Goods.

Working closely with the Crayola brand on creating a new product range.

**Role**: The role of the Buyer is to implement the development and delivery of commercial and profitable products that maximise sales opportunities. This will include but not be limited to:
**General**
- Supporting and assisting Head of Design/Pillar Lead and deputising for the department in their absence
- Managing AB, ensuring priorities are met and needs are addressed.
- Line manager responsibility for Assistant Buyer
- Product & data entry into Nav with assistance from Assistant Buyer
- Collating information to complete Costing Sheets.
- Complete Costing sheets with the assistance of the Pillar Lead
- Ownership of keeping line listings up to date.
- Working in conjunction with Sales and Design to prepare for customer meetings.
- Ownership of Sample Management, implementing and leading new sampling procedure for both office and sample room with assistance from Assistant buyer
- Monitoring - Order Critical Path with Merch/AB to ensure intake dates are met

**Product & Range Development**
- Identifying new opportunities and working alongside the sales and design team to fully execute this.
- Ownership of building and managing certain ranges
- Presenting to senior management in Pillar Meetings the ranges and commercials
- Documenting product information including costings, lead times into the range plan
- Attending trade shows to meet with suppliers to manage the relationships and to source new suppliers.
- Creating product briefs for suppliers and factories, working with Designer and QA to ensure up to date with standards for products and factories.
- Collaborating with design on products and packaging
- Liaising with QA and checking all artworks for labels are accurate.
- Ownership of the product Development Critical Path Management (with assistance from Assistant Buyer). Ensuring product critical paths and weekly workloads are on track to achieve deadlines from concept to pre-production with design and manufacturers. Ensuringdeadlines are adhered to and follow up on all sample issues to resolve and drive to completion. Identifying, calling out and making recommendations to mitigate any risks/challenges identified at all stages.
- Lead KO meetings for your category areas (with assistance from the Pillar Lead)
- Anticipate the needs of the customer, using customer insight and market trends to deliver commercial product ranges.
- Establishing and maintaining good relationships with existing and potential new suppliers.
- Manage the performance of suppliers, with support from the Pillar lead dealing with issues quickly and effectively ensuring mínimal impact to the business.
- Understanding the appropriate sourcing route and preferred supplier for Product.
- International Travel as and when required to visit suppliers’ showrooM/Factories.
- Working with the sales team on reactive briefs for our customers, ensuring the appropriate sourcing route is utilised.
- Negotiating the best cost price to achieve department margin targets.
- Conduct regular store visits to key customers to gain further insight.
- Responsible (with support from Pillar lead) for delivering samples on time, to the quality standard, and within cost price range, to achieve target margin
- Responsible for ensuring functionality (including consistency and standardisation) and ensuring products that are developed are fit for purpose for the customer, brand and business. This includes ongoing risk assessment during the development process andproactivity in taking actions as a result

**Planning**
- Assist the Pilar Lead in Department Strategy and Pillar meetings.
- Begin to gain solid understanding of the Business Strategy and how that impacts your department.

**Product Awareness**
- Assist Head of Design and Pillar Lead in forecasting future trends for your department.
- Attend Trade shows for inspiration and to source new product/ suppliers.
- Attend international and UK competitor shopping trips.
- Have a good understanding of customer product preferences.

**Team**
- Managing the buying team, ensuring priorities are met and needs are addressed.
- Develop and set clear goals for the Assistant Buyer, deliver relevant training and support where needed.
- Collaboratively working with Sales, Merchandising, Marketing, Design and Technical colleagues
- Acting as a positive role model for the Team and peers.

Must have:

- Minimum 3 years buying/product development background and or experience in
- Proven track record in supplier/retail environment
- PC literate and working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Working knowledge of the Company IT systems
- Stationery/Gift or Toy product expeirnece
- Supervisory experience within a team