Assistant Buyer – Home Accessories
3 days ago
Norwich
Position: Assistant Buyer – Home Accessories Reporting to: Accessories Buyer Hours: 40 hours per week Salary: Competitive Location: Hybrid/Norwich or London Job Purpose We are looking for an experienced and commercially astute Assistant Buyer to support our growing Home Accessories category. This role plays a key part in executing seasonal strategies, managing the critical path, and driving product and process improvements. You’ll be expected to bring initiative, strong judgement, and a proactive mindset — someone who can anticipate needs, take ownership, and confidently support the Buyer in delivering a compelling and profitable product offer. Key duties and responsibilities will include: • Support the Accessories Buyer in the end-to-end Buying process, from range planning and product development through to delivery and trade., • Take ownership of the critical path, proactively managing timelines and flagging risks across suppliers and internal teams to ensure smooth execution of seasonal launches., • Build strong relationships with suppliers – chasing progress, resolving issues and escalating concerns or proposed solution to the Buyer, where appropriate, • Monitor sales, stock, margin and rate-or-sale data, to identify risks and opportunities, and support in-season decision-making., • Conduct regular market and competitor analysis to inform pricing, design direction, and product opportunities. Essential qualities and behaviours we're looking for: • Commercially aware with a genuine interest in product performance and customer needs., • Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to managing multiple deadlines, • Proactive and self-motivated, able to anticipate next steps and take initiative without waiting for instruction, • Comfortable working at pace and staying calm under pressure, • Clear and confident communicator, able to build strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams, • Solutions-focused mindset, with good judgement and the ability to escalate issues constructively, • Team player who supports others and contributes to a collaborative working culture Qualifications, skills and experience - essential: • Proven experience in an Assistant Buyer or similar role within a homeware, interiors or lifestyle retail environment., • Commercially aware with a keen interest in interiors and a strong understanding of customer preferences., • Confident in analysing data to make informed, commercially-driven decisions., • Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships., • Proactive, solutions-focused mindset - able to anticipate needs and work with minimal direction., • Comfortable working in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment., • Confident user of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint., • Collaborative team player who can delegate to junior team members while taking ownership of key deliverables. Whilst not essential, it would be great if you had: • Experience of using Netsuite CRM or similar ERP systems., • Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and/or InDesign. For more company information and to locate our careers page, follow the link https://careers.cotswoldco.com/