Assistant Buyer / Junior Merchandiser

Working in a small, friendly product development team based in Chesterfield. The role entails supporting the buyers from product concept and throughout the product cycle by managing the critical path, communicating regularly with factories in the UK and Far East as well as monitoring sales data and regularly reporting on product performance and creating analytical recommendations within the ranges.

Key Responsibilities:

Critical Path Management:

• Develop and manage the critical path for all product launches for our range as well as own label, ensuring timelines are met from concept to delivery.
• Track product progress across supply chain stages, maintaining smooth communication between suppliers and customers. This will include progress of gold seal tracking, packing approval, customer range review samples etc.
• Identify and resolve delays proactively with the team to keep projects on schedule.
• Creation and completion of spec files for all products across Textiles and Accessories ready to pass on to QC team and ensure they are updated into the critical path.
• Management of photography samples and tracking in line with the studio timeline.

Buying Strategy and Supplier Management:

• Support with costing sheets for customers creating quote sheets with photographs ready for the sales team.
• Support the buyer with supplier communication to gathering pricing, lead times, and MOQs while maintaining quality and margin goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers through daily communication.

Range Analysis and Sales Management:

• Range analysis based on sales data and create meaningful reports based on sell thru, profitability, product category % mix and sku counts to identify buying opportunities and avoid overstock or understock situations across our range as well as Own label.
• Work with the merchandising team to deliver accurate forecasting and replenishment plans.
• Management of the clearance and Discontinued lines on a regular basis with costings and photos prepared for the sales team.

General Duties:

• Prepare detailed Power point presentations based on market trends, in season promotional lines, trend photographs from trade Fairs etc
• Trade Fair preparations of samples and ticketing/ pricing at Spring Fair and in House Events.
• Preparation of samples for customer meetings in house and externally as well as preparation of PowerPoint presentations.
• Collation of comp shops and market trends.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in merchandising and buying, ideally within home textiles or a related industry.
• Strong knowledge of critical path management tools and methodologies.
• Analytical mindset with a passion for market research and trend analysis.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with a track record of successful supplier management.
• Proficiency in relevant software, such as Excel, PLM systems, and project management tools.
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organisational skills.
• Passion for product and keen to work in fast paced, hands-on role within buying and Merchandising