Junior Buyer

Are you an Junior Buyer looking for your next opportunity? Have you worked in a similar role previously?

Bensons for Beds is looking for a new Junior Buyer to join our Buring team based in Accrington.

Reporting to the Head of buying, this role will be responsible for defining and executing an effective buying brief for your category that delivers range cohesion and drives the agreed sales, margin and delivery targets whilst reflecting market forces such as pricing and consumer trends.

So, what will you do?

The role can be separated in to 4 main categories; Product Development, Supplier Management, Product Procurement and Leadership:

• Define and execute an effective buying brief for a product category that delivers range cohesion and drives the agreed sales, margin and delivery targets whilst reflecting market forces such as pricing and consumer trends
• Ensure that across the product offer each ranges ‘USPs’ are significant enough not to cause cannibalisation of sales from other ranges and allows the business to drive up ATV through ‘trade up’ strategies.
• Ensure that the product on our sales floor provides inspiration for our Customers and retail team and that the selected ranges support the Company brand essence.
• Maximise opportunities and ensure the business product sourcing is managed in line with our vertical integration strategy.
• The on-going selection and development of product suppliers ensuring they have the capability and capacity to make product in line with agreed timescales and quality standards.
• Ensure all aspects of supplier performance are properly and effectively assessed and managed, taking appropriate remedial action where necessary.
• The development of productive two way relationships with suppliers ensuring they are kept abreast of Company developments enabling them to meet on-gong demands.
• The development and implementation of a timely, effective and commercially sound buying process.
• Gather information on customers’ reactions to products
• The efficient and timely sourcing of new product that meet the needs of the defined range architecture.
• The effective negotiation of terms of business with product suppliers in line with overall margin, service and quality targets.
• Analysing previous season’s sales and reporting on the current season’s lines.
• Ensure team members are kept abreast of current issues both at departmental and Company level through effective communication forums.

What will you get?

• Employee discount scheme for Bensons products
• *Medicash - cashback options for Health and Wellbeing services (dental, optical, virtual GP, other healthcare services and more)
• Unum Income Protection - for peace of mind if you’re off work long term due to illness
• *Pension scheme – provided by Legal & General
• *Discounted Gym membership
• *Cycle to Work scheme
• 33 days Annual Leave as standard plus the option to buy & sell annual leave – you can top up your holiday entitlement or sell unused days to suit you
• *Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Access to Retail Trust services (guidance and support on retail issues, mental health, wellbeing & financial topics)
• Learning and development programmes to gain new knowledge and skills
• Career progression – access to internal opportunities to build your career within Bensons for Beds
• *Long service awards and ‘Love to Shop’ voucher rewards to spend as you like

• Strong organisational and leadership skills
• Experience of working in a similar role in Buying
• Previous experience of managing margins
• Experience in forecasting and budgeting
• Experience of formulating and delivering a detailed plan for taking products from purchase to shop floor
• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• Excellent influencing skills
• Commercial awareness of the retail trade