Role: Trainee Buyer

Location: Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1QJ

Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working, 3 days per week office-based

Contract: Fixed-term, 6 months, Full-Time

Who are we?

For over 30 ears, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. Our purpose is to bring style and positivity to our customers lives through the clothes we make, the things we do and the values we have.

We are Made for Life. Considered style. Trusted quality. Sustainably sourced. Proud to be a B Corp™.

Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

The Trainee Buyer will be working alongside the Buying Team to support the Buying team in delivering key administration for the department, whilst learning the fundamentals of the Buying role.

Role Responsibilities

Sample management:

• Managing proto samples upon arrival, labelling, and checking off as appropriate.
• Chase in all VM & photo shoot samples as required.
• Liaise with suppliers from around the globe to track samples for selection meetings and production approvals.
• Be aware of key meetings to prepare samples and information as required.
• Chase in samples for fitting and prepare paperwork, filing as required.
• Assist in the fitting sessions with sample organisation and administration of the fit log.

Administration:

• Daily up-keep of department filling, approvals and any supplier correspondence required.
• Supporting across other departments with admin tasks as workload requires.
• System:
• Support Assistant Buyer in critical path management to ensure key dates are met to maximise launch availability and profits.
• Support AB with Product Labelling & Packaging requirements.
• Support Buyer with getting Product Online data ready for publishing.
• Chase in sustainability certification and update on system.

Trading:

• Assist in the creation of the Monday trading packs, understanding best and worst performance.
• Use your knowledge of relevant trends to find new product initiatives that you believe are missing from the department’s current product offering.

Market awareness:

• Visiting competitor and inspirational brands and share opportunities & findings with AB/Buyer.
• Updating of competitor analysis on product and pricing on a seasonal basis

Department knowledge

• Gain understanding of the department strategy. Produce supplier, competitor, and product information as required.
• Develop an understanding of the product development process.
• Initial insight into sourcing the right materials and sustainability strategy.
• Understand cost price’s and how to negotiate the best cost.
• What to look for when Approving colour, fabric and fit for production.
• Deputise for Assistant Buyer when required.

Skills and Experience

• A passion for fashion and the FatFace brand
• Have an awareness of key fashion and market trends by gaining inspiration from a variety of sources.
• Work experience within a retailer is an advantage.
• Fashion / Retail Qualification or in store experience
• Enthusiasm to learn, supportive and ‘can do’ attitude.
• Highly organised, you’ll be able to proactively manage a wide range of responsibilities throughout the development process.
• Work well within a team, both internally and externally.

Role Competencies

• Use of required Product systems and Microsoft Office
• Basic understanding of the Buying working practices, buying lifecycle and terminology.
• An understanding of the FatFace customer & our competitors.

Key Contacts and Relationships

• Internally: Product team, VM & Phot studio team.
• Externally: Suppliers.

Other Benefits Include

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts e.c.t)
• THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning.
• Dental Insurance (employee funded)
• Pension scheme
• EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
• Critical illness/Death in service for Salaried staff
• Sick pay allowances
• O2 phone discount
• Eye Tests/contributions to glasses
• Sabbatical leave in line with service
• Enhanced Family Friendly polices i.e. Maternity Leave
• Refer a friend scheme.