Buyer

 

Supporting the Head of Buying and Merchandising executing the retail strategy, with particular focus on maximising sales through excellent product selection, range building with the Merchandiser, buying administration and the adequate availability of product across all categories in all retail channels (physical stores, shop.fulhamfc.com, and 3rd party online marketplaces). 

 

The Buyer must: 
•  2-3 years’ experience in a similar role
•  Educated to degree level
•  Fashion and souvenir buying 
•  Excellent commercial awareness.
•  Presentation skills and the ability to explain product successes and failure clearly.
•  Creative, product focused and accurate with attention to detail  
•  Thrives under pressure and meets tight deadlines with quality results.
•  Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of relationship building.
•  Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.
•  An ability to work well and maintain focus, accuracy, and pace under pressure.
•  Positive, enthusiastic thinker with an ability for practicalities.
•  Pro-active, energetic and eager to learn and develop.
•  Knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint and an aptitude for learning new systems.
•  Keen collaborator 

Ideally, Buyer will have: 
•  Experience building relationships with external partners and suppliers.
•  Product development experience
•  An active interest in retail sports and the football industry
•  An understanding of cultural differences and how this can impact working relationships
•  An interest in globalisation, and how events in another part of the world can affect how business is carried out.
•  Experience of working in a fast-paced retail environment

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Purchasing a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices, to enhance revenue and profit. Researching new markets, products and manufacturing processes. Identifying quality standards and ensuring that all products meet those standards. Collating customer feedback, negotiating with suppliers to agree prices, quantities, delivery schedules and exclusivity deals.

 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the responsibilities of the role: 

 

• Work with the Merchandiser across all product categories, including providing administrative support as required.
• Develop a deep understanding of the Fulham FC Buying calendar, criterial path and supplier quantity deadlines. 
• Monitors the entire product lifecycle seeking further enhancements of ranges and products.
• Select relevant products for the consumer journey for both online and instore
• Maintain supplier relationships and conduct robust price negotiations to maximise the intake margin
• Conduct robust product development briefs to the supply base
• Support the Head of Buying and Merchandising with range reviews to build future product ranges.
• Active in the purchase of the matchday kits and training wear
• Identify new product opportunities by staying informed on market trends 
• Develop an understanding of the football leagues fonts and badge requirements.
• Present the weekly sellers to the team with the merchandiser
• Responsible for creation of product files on the stock management system (currently RSS).
• Responsible for creating and amending all purchase orders, as directed by the Buying and Merchandising Manager
• Responsible for providing suppliers with product barcodes and checking accuracy.
• Responsible for sample requests and documentation of gold and green seals for sign off
• Responsible for documenting, sending, and receiving samples for photography for the online store and Marketing campaigns
• Develops an understanding of the analytics for the online store
• Creates the visual aspects of the assets with the Merchandiser for execution by the external photography team
• Monitor and chase the deadlines on the Marketing Calendar to ensure timely delivery of digital assets to support in-store and online sales campaigns.
• Visiting stadium store to develop continuous understanding of the impact of the Buyer role on practical requirements in-store, and vice-versa.
• Conduct bi-weekly meetings with the Marketing team with the Merchandiser to ensure all asset requirements are actioned
• Executes all packaging requirements with the supplier base as per the brand guidelines
• Conducts supplier visits, exhibitions, competitive store analysis with the Head of Buying and Merchandising to track competition to enhance the product offering.
• Ensure the quality of the products are maintained and the Fulham IP is executed as per the brand guidelines on all products
• Complete product approvals in the Cuservi system