Job Title: Assistant Buyer
Reports To: Senior Buyer
Department: Buying
Location: Head Office, Cottons Centre, London
Direct Reports: Buying Admin Assistant
Role Summary:
At Charles Tyrwhitt our purpose is to “Make it easy for men to dress well”. The primary purpose of the Assistant Buyer is to provide full support to the Buyer in developing a commercial product offer that meets customer requirements to maximise sales and profit opportunities. This will be delivered through the effective monitoring of critical dates and commercial and strategic thinking, as well as utilising strategic awareness.
Key Responsibilities:
Commercial Awareness & Strategic Thinking
* Identify and analyse best and worst sellers to be presented in Monday trade meetings, feeding back key points to the Buyer accordingly.
* Review and analyse sales at weekly and seasonal level by territory and channel to identify future opportunities and strategies.
* Produce an end of season SWOT analysis to highlight lessons learnt, using this to build the seasonal department strategy.
* Complete supplier ratings and SWOT analysis to form supplier strategy.
* Propose mood, model and hero shots for the season, alongside Buyer and Designer.
* Propose the retail product selection by store grade and territory, working alongside the Merchandiser.
* When required, present the range to the acquisition teams, recommending product selections by territory.
* When required, present the range to the creative, photography, web and customer services teams, highlighting key selling features and marketing messages in order to best promote the product across all channels.
Market Awareness
* Conduct regular CT store and warehouse visits.
* Conduct regular comp shop trips to maintain knowledge of the competitive market, and feed back relevant findings to the Buyer.
Range Building & Product Development
* Work with Buyer and Designer to build the range, making suggestions and highlighting missed and new opportunities.
* Assist the Buyer to build the range through range framework sheet to create a balanced and commercial range for all territories and channels
* Assist the Buyer to decide page allocation and book exposure across territories and channels.
* Alongside the Buyer & Designer, order, receipt, review and approve CADs, lab dips, knit-downs, handlooms, strike-offs and sample lengths according to critical dates.
* Prepare for and attend all seasonal Range meetings, presenting alongside buyer where required.
* Prepare for and attend pack handover supplier meetings to agree all critical dates and support the briefing of new development samples.
* Review proto and photo samples with Buyer, Designer and Technologist to agree all final product details.
Price Negotiations
* Set up negotiation sheets, obtaining all cost prices and set targets to begin negotiations with the supplier under the Buyer’s guidance.
Understanding of Merchandising
* Work closely with Assistant Merchandiser to develop a clear understanding of key Merchandising processes and documents, including Delivery Schedules, Production Plans, Mark Downs and Intake Margin..
Technical Duties
* Attend new development risk assessment meetings and, alongside Design and Technical teams, agree styles for wearer trial and further testing.
* Ensure tech packs are correct and support the briefing of new developments to suppliers.
* Attend seasonal fit sessions, working with the Technologist, Designer & Buyer to suggest improvements to product fit and finish.
* Attend fit sessions and, in conjunction with the Buyer and Technologist, ensure timely approval is given of fit, sealer and shipment samples in accordance with critical dates. manner.
Critical Path Management
* Collate all key trigger dates to form the department’s seasonal critical path
* Manage the critical path by supplier and department, solving problems efficiently and updating the Buyer to prevent delays.
Person Specification:
Experience Required
* Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the buying and product cycles.
* Comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing processes, including garment make and fabric make and finishing, and their implications on total lead times.
* Comprehensive understanding of costing sheets and margin calculations.
* Clear understanding of freight and duty rates, by supplier and country of origin.
* Comprehensive understanding of the CT customer, brand profile and product offer.
* Clear understanding of the critical path and lead times for each process.
Behavioural Competencies
* Excellent organisational and time management skills.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to initiate and build strong relationships with internal teams and suppliers.
* Excellent numerical and analytical skills and attention to detail.
* Good negotiation skills.
* Ability to effectively prioritise and independently manage workload.
* Strong problem solving skills and the ability to identify potential risks or issues and make suggestions to avoid or resolve them.
* Good presentation skills.
Technical Skills
* Comprehensive understanding of spec sheets, tech packs and fit comments as well as quality control procedures including fabric composition, construction and garment construction.