Buyer

Buyer

About our culture

The Works is such a welcoming place to… well… work! Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.

We’ve built an environment that’s busy, always moving, and full of energy. Yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations and our favourite page-turners!

It’s the perfect place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to work. If you’re the kind of person who is as ’crafty’, ‘caring’ and ‘can-do’ as we are, then this is the kind of culture for you.

About the role

Our buying team are currently on the look-out for a Buyer to join their fast-paced & customer focused team. When you’re not on the look-out for new trends and products for our lovely customers, you’ll be developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key suppliers and negotiating to get the best deals!

You’ll be working with internal stakeholders to plan, communicate and manage product range changeover and ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand The Works customer base and use this knowledge to develop customer-centric product ranges that will deliver company sales and hit every KPI each financial year
• Negotiate and secure promotional opportunities with suppliers in line with sales and profitability requirements
• Ensure prompt delivery of stock and correct phasing of intake to meet sales targets
• Work with key internal stakeholders to plan, communicate and manage product range changeover
• Negotiate and improve trading terms and manage your suppliers to the benefit of The Works
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Far East suppliers and UK based suppliers 
• Identify and develop new supplier opportunities in order to improve The Works market position and further improve category profitability

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Proven experience within previous Buying positions, preferably within Retail
• A highly driven, experienced and confident negotiator with the ability to manage important relationships with suppliers
• Excellent commercial skills, resilience and the ability to plan and work under pressure 
• Possess excellent IT skills, including excel & word

Passionate - in everything you do - a positive attitude, motivated and enthusiastic

Team Player - a collaborative team member who enjoys building relationships with people

Highly organised - you can prioritise tasks and work to deadlines

Strong communicator – able to communicate confidently and concisely to all levels within the business

Personal effectiveness - great attention to detail and able to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines

Customer focus - you put the customer at the centre of everything you do

Problem solving - you proactively identify issues and their causes, with realistic solutions

Our Purpose

To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play – making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

A bit about The Works

We are working towards our ambition of becoming one of the most loved retailers in the UK and the go-to place for reading, learning, creativity and play. We believe in the importance of fun and fulfilment and taking time out to do the things you love.

With 525 stores nationwide and a strong multi-channel proposition, our mission is to offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, built on core principles of value, variety and quality.

We’re super proud to be certified as two star ‘Outstanding to work for’ via Best Companies for three years running and a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.

Buyer

About our culture

The Works is such a welcoming place to… well… work! Our atmosphere is supportive, friendly and inclusive. A second home-from-home where you can be your best and authentic you.

We’ve built an environment that’s busy, always moving, and full of energy. Yet we still make space to share must-watch TV recommendations and our favourite page-turners!

It’s the perfect place for people who know how to roll their sleeves up, get creative, and put their passion and imagination to work. If you’re the kind of person who is as ’crafty’, ‘caring’ and ‘can-do’ as we are, then this is the kind of culture for you.

About the role

Our buying team are currently on the look-out for a Buyer to join their fast-paced & customer focused team. When you’re not on the look-out for new trends and products for our lovely customers, you’ll be developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key suppliers and negotiating to get the best deals!

You’ll be working with internal stakeholders to plan, communicate and manage product range changeover and ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand The Works customer base and use this knowledge to develop customer-centric product ranges that will deliver company sales and hit every KPI each financial year
• Negotiate and secure promotional opportunities with suppliers in line with sales and profitability requirements
• Ensure prompt delivery of stock and correct phasing of intake to meet sales targets
• Work with key internal stakeholders to plan, communicate and manage product range changeover
• Negotiate and improve trading terms and manage your suppliers to the benefit of The Works
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Far East suppliers and UK based suppliers 
• Identify and develop new supplier opportunities in order to improve The Works market position and further improve category profitability

Knowledge, skills & experience

• Proven experience within previous Buying positions, preferably within Retail
• A highly driven, experienced and confident negotiator with the ability to manage important relationships with suppliers
• Excellent commercial skills, resilience and the ability to plan and work under pressure 
• Possess excellent IT skills, including excel & word

Passionate - in everything you do - a positive attitude, motivated and enthusiastic

Team Player - a collaborative team member who enjoys building relationships with people

Highly organised - you can prioritise tasks and work to deadlines

Strong communicator – able to communicate confidently and concisely to all levels within the business

Personal effectiveness - great attention to detail and able to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines

Customer focus - you put the customer at the centre of everything you do

Problem solving - you proactively identify issues and their causes, with realistic solutions

Our Purpose

To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play – making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

A bit about The Works

We are working towards our ambition of becoming one of the most loved retailers in the UK and the go-to place for reading, learning, creativity and play. We believe in the importance of fun and fulfilment and taking time out to do the things you love.

With 525 stores nationwide and a strong multi-channel proposition, our mission is to offer a unique and enjoyable shopping experience, built on core principles of value, variety and quality.

We’re super proud to be certified as two star ‘Outstanding to work for’ via Best Companies for three years running and a Sunday Times 2020 Top 25 Best Big Companies to work for.