City of London
Job Title: Buyer Department: Buying Contract type: Permanent, 40 hours per week Location: The Fold’s Head office in Bermondsey. Hybrid working- 4 days per week in the office The Fold is a British womenswear brand redefining modern luxury workwear for today’s career woman. With a multi-channel presence—led by e-commerce and with 2 London stores in Chelsea and the City, we’ve built a loyal global following particularly in the UK and US. We’re ready for further international growth expanding our mission to empower women worldwide to get up, dress up and show up! Role Overview: The Buyer will lead the end-to-end buying and trading strategy across key categories, driving commercial performance and delivering compelling, brand-aligned ranges. Join us at an exciting point in our journey, where you’ll play a key role in shaping seasonal strategy, product direction and delivering against financial targets. You’ll own your categories end-to-end—driving sales, margin, and stock performance—while working cross-functionally and supporting the development of the junior team. This is a high-impact role with real ownership, visibility, and the opportunity to help shape what comes next. Key Responsibilities: 1. Range Development & Product Strategy You’ll lead the development of commercially successful, customer-focused ranges that align with The Fold brand: • Own the buying and development of your categories, driving sales performance and margin delivery, • Define and execute seasonal strategies, including option planning, pricing architecture, and assortment build aligned to financial targets, • Work in collaboration with Design and Production to deliver product, with strong input into fabrications, fit and construction, • Build strong supplier relationships, leading negotiations to achieve target margins and cost prices, • Use customer insight, trade data, market trends and competitor analysis to inform decisions and identify opportunities for growth, • Present seasonal strategies and range sign-offs, clearly linking product decisions to commercial outcomes, • Oversee the critical path in collaboration with the Assistant Buyer, ensuring on-time delivery against business KPIs 2.Trading & Commercial Performance You’ll take ownership of your category performance, making confident, data-led decisions to drive results: • Own and deliver against sales, margin, intake, and stock targets across categories, • Lead weekly and seasonal trade reviews, identifying risks, opportunities, and actions, • Make informed decisions on re-buys, repeats, and markdown strategy to maximise performance, • Partner with Merchandising to optimise stock levels and overall trading outcomes, • Proactively respond to trading performance, continually looking for ways to improve and grow your categories 3.Team & Cross-Functional Collaboration You’ll play a key role in building strong relationships and ensuring the smooth running of the department: • Support and develop the Assistant Buyer, setting clear priorities and helping to build capability, • Take ownership of day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient execution of all buying processes, • Oversee key workflows including reporting, meetings, and system management, • Ensure timely delivery of all samples (shoot, press, and internal), aligned to the critical path, • Work closely with Design, Production, Merchandising, Marketing, and E-commerce to ensure alignment, • Share clear recommendations, escalating risks and opportunities where needed About You You’ll bring a strong commercial mindset, a passion for product, and the confidence to take ownership in a fast-paced, evolving environment with: • Proven experience in womenswear, with strong product and technical understanding, • Knitwear experience would be a plus but not essential, • A track record of owning and driving category performance against sales and margin targets, • Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to use data to inform decisions, • Confident negotiating with suppliers to deliver against cost and margin expectations, • Experience supporting or mentoring junior team members, • Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, • A confident communicator, comfortable influencing cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders, • Comfortable working in an environment that is evolving, with the flexibility to adapt as priorities shift If you enjoy working at pace, building strong relationships, and taking ownership of your work, we’d love to hear from you! Benefits & Perks: We believe great work happens when people feel supported, valued, and inspired—here’s how we make that happen: • 33 days holiday (25 days + bank holidays) + option to buy more!, • Pension scheme, • Salary sacrifice options (pension & childcare), • Financial wellbeing platform to support your goals, • £1,250 annual The Fold gift voucher, • Bike to work scheme to save on bikes & equipment, • Employee Assistance Programme (confidential wellbeing support when you need it), • Eye care support, • Enhanced maternity pay, • Friends & family discount – enjoy 50% off full retail price, • Monthly social events, plus summer & Christmas parties, • Summer Fridays for that early start to the weekend, • Fully stocked snack cupboards, fresh fruit, plus great coffee & tea, • Opportunities to give back through volunteering with our charity partner, Smart Works Unfortunately due to the number of applications we receive, we are only able to respond to those that are successful to the next stage. Diversity and Inclusion We promote a diverse and inclusive workplace which harnesses the benefits of the diversity of our team and strives to represent the communities in which we live and work. Our vision is to establish an environment that attracts individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and talents, empowering them to contribute their best and authentic selves. We welcome and encourage applications from those who share our commitment to fostering this inclusive and authentic work culture.