Assistant Buyer - Fashion

Role Purpose:

The Assistant Buyer is accountable for supporting the buyer for their relevant department/category.

The role is key to the delivery of the department/through analysing performance. The individual will demonstrate strong commercial acumen, have a creative eye and be able to identify new and seasonal trends in collaboration with the Buyer.

Fashion Buying at Fortnum and Mason is unique and requires an interest in trends, an understanding of seasonality and commerciality. Working quickly and collaboratively is key to delivering the single vision strategy.

For this role you must be organised, resilient and highly adaptable to the needs of the business. You will relish working in a fast paced creative environment. Highly effective at working as a team player, as well as competent in managing your own time. You will have a highly collaborative approach to your work and be an exceptional communicator, both written and spoken, confident in influencing stakeholders horizontally across the business. You will be able to demonstrate strong product skills, industry knowledge with an ability to identify and create market/product trends to realise new opportunities. A keen eye for detail in this role is essential. From analysing trade reports to troubleshooting potential product issues or artwork amendments. You will relish problem solving and enjoy the varied dynamic of no day being the same. You will be excellent in managing multiple tasks and projects at the same time and have a positive outlook and can do proactive attitude. You will enjoy the balance in this role encompassing both a need for being highly organised and structured to being highly creative and innovation led.

Reports to:

Buyer – Fashion

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic

• Under the direction of the Buyer, contribute to the delivery of the strategic vision across all channels for the category.
• Contributes to or has responsibility for the Buy of a specific product category under the direction of the Buyer.
• Analyses performance and produces weekly sell-through reports – communicating analysis, actions and outcomes to suppliers
• Actively trade the departments with all relevant stakeholders
• Contribute to negotiations with the support of the Buyer
• Demonstrate an authentic and passionate understanding of brand, product and the competition within the market
• Demonstrates an understanding of the customer profile and be able to anticipate customer needs and expectations in a multichannel environment

Operational

• Be prompt and on time to the office and meetings
• Manages and maintains all product set up (incl. sku raising, barcodes, web copy, imagery etc)
• Maintains seasonal product calendars to capitalise on key events / holidays throughout year
• Maintains and manages departmental buy pads when raising skus each season, ensures a sku is effectively and accurately deployed across all channels; Retail, Online, Wholesale and Satellite Stores.
• Supporting the Buyer on processing all invoice queries and resolving them in a timely manor
• Supporting customer services resolving questions in a timely manor
• Requests all signage for new brands, product launches and events
• Supporting the Buyer on floor walks
• Supporting in the completion of competitor shops of product and pricing
• Liaise closely with the merchandisers to coordinate deliveries to hit seasonal launches. Providing support for; stock returns, quality investigations (damages / faulties), customer orders, new launches
• Prepare up to date, relevant information packs for trade meetings and be able to present in the Buyers absence
• Inputs into the identification of new brands and products in line with Fortnum’s strategy and commitment to quality
• Contributes to new product development in line with the Fortnum own label strategy
• Ability to effectively relationship manage the supplier base through regular email communication and occasional meetings
• Ensure all suppliers meet the Fortnum & Mason compliance standards
• Attend and contribute to buying meetings externally and internally, where necessary on behalf of the Buyer

People & Collaboration

• Have regular, open communication with all stakeholders
• Be able to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders
• Working across the business to meet all the key needs from the online team through to marketing – working quickly and effectively
• Openly contribute in meetings
• Demonstrate an authentic and passionate understanding of the brand and brand values
• Provide consistent and detailed support to the Buyer

Role Specific Criteria (Experience/Behaviours/Technical Ability)

We expect the person in this role to have the following skills and experience:

• Ability to manage time and workload with often competing priorities and varying demands of the business
• Support the buyer to achieve the necessary deadlines for the department
• Ability to accurately maintain and manage buypads with merchandising
• Ensure buying accountabilities are updated in range plans (e.g prices)
• Ensure product is accurately deployed across every channel in the business (e.g from pricing to web copy)
• Have an exceptionally high level of verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to influence, effectively, with all team members and relevant key interfaces
• Strong customer service focus when dealing with both internal and external parties
• Ability to undertake duties autonomously as well as contribute to the wider team
• Detailed orientated with high levels of numeracy and analytical skills
• Ability to manage competing demands of a seasonal buying calendar, effectively and collaboratively with key stakeholders
• Ability to source and deliver new and exclusive product within a highly competitive market
• Have knowledge, passion and interest in luxury fashion and accessories

In return, we offer:

• A competitive salary
• A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
• 25 days holidays (excluded bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
• A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
• A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
• Excellent pension scheme

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.

In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards.