Assistant Buyer

A superb role within the Commercial Buying function with Card Factory, market leader in Cards and Giftware.

Since our launch in 1997, Card Factory has become the fastest growing greetings card retailer in the UK and one of the leading lights of the industry. We sell a wide selection of cards, as well as gifts, gift bags and decorative wrapping materials. When it comes to special occasions, whatever the need, we’ve got it wrapped up! And we’re still growing; today we have over 970 stores, in every corner of the UK, with more popping up all the time, as well as our online store.

We are now looking to strengthen our existing Commercial Buying team and are recruiting for an Assistant Buyer.

Key responsibilities for this role will be:

• Manage a portfolio of products to ensure the critical paths for the range are followed and take corrective action to resolve issues when needed;
• Contribute to the management of the range plan, ensuring that accurate and timely data is provided to influence the decision-making process;
• Contribute to the product development ensuring it meets customer requirements (pricing, product design, and product trend) and is linked to strategy and financial targets;
• Responsible for working with the Quality Control team to ensure products are sourced with relevant safety and quality standards and supplier audits are in place;
• Support Buyers to make informed decisions, manage risk, drive sales and profitability;
• Analyse and evaluate the overall performance of the product area weekly against budget, LFL and strategy, identify lessons learnt and take necessary action;
• Support Buyers to drive sales and profitability through effective negotiations on key deliverables.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be able to confidently raise opportunities to Buyers and Senior Buyers to ensure team success;
• Is able to build working relationships within the team, and with other key stakeholders;
• Work in an ethical, sustainable and legal way in sourcing of product;
• Be results focused and plans ahead, dealing with issues before they escalate;
• Be commercially aware and seek ways to improve profit;
• Good time management skills;
• Strong excel skills;
• Strong numerical and analytical skills;
• Is able to build to work cross functionally.

You will ideally have:

• Ability to have tough, honest conversations that drive performance;
• Experience interpreting financial data to improve profit and sales;
• Experience managing all administration that is connected to the area.

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate.