ASSISTANT BUYER – HIGH STREET
Based; Swindon (with hybrid working)
Grade C

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a highly creative and proactive Assistant Buyer to join our High Street team, working in our Support Centre in Swindon.

The main purpose of an Assistant Buyer is to work alongside the Buying Manager, and Buyer, supporting the management and delivery of the strategy for the Stationery category, providing data insight and analysis on the range performance and helping to facilitate promotional plans.

This role is centered around new product development, where design is integral to shaping innovative, trend-driven ranges. You will play a key role in sourcing and development process, building strong supplier relationships with WHSmith’s sourcing offices to deliver exceptional products to market.

This is a great opportunity to start your buying career, to learn and develop within one of the leading buying teams in the industry.

What you will be doing

• Assist the Buyer in generating new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income
• Support with the management of new and existing projects
• Manage effective relationships with suppliers
• Keep abreast of design and market trends.
• Review competitor activity to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering
• Ensure the smooth running of promotions and comply with promotional deadlines
• Take accountability and support the team on various projects

• You will have a basic understanding of business (i.e. buying and stock)
• You will be analytical and have a head for figures as this role is data driven
• You will have experience in new product development (or creative background)
• A highly organised multitasker, with a keen eye for detail, accuracy and achieving deadlines
• Someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who is hungry to succeed and make an impact
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel (if you can use pivot tables and VLOOKUPS, that would be advantageous)

• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family friendly leave
• Company pension
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and Personal Performance
• Competitive salary
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us
Celebrating over 230 years, we’re proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we’re proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

WHSmith have occupied our place as the Hub of the High Street and in our customers’ hearts since 1792. Across our diverse estate of c.525 stores on UK high streets, with our wide-ranging store sizes and formats, we sell a large range of products including stationery, greeting cards, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, books and drinks. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture.

WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.