Role: Assistant Buyer
Location: Bournemouth
Reference: HOB1141563
Closing Date: 09/10/2025 23:59
Creativity is Hobbycraft’s reason for being, so when you join our fantastic team, you will be surrounded by like-minded imaginative people. We believe that working together and embracing new and innovative ideas are the best way to make our colleagues feel part of something.
Assistant Buyer - Hobbycraft Head Office, BH23 6HG
Salary - up to £27k pa dependent on experience - Pension with a 4% contribution, 25 days holiday increasing every year, 25% discount in our stores
This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours. Our core business hours are Monday to Friday – 10am to 3pm with a flexible approach to start and finish times
Our hybrid working model is 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home
Key Purpose of Role
In this role, you’ll be working alongside the Buyer and wider Trading team, supporting the management and delivery of the strategy for the category, providing data insight and analysis on the range performance, helping to shape product ranges, execute promotions, and bring innovative retail strategies to life — all while playing a key part in driving sales and hitting margin targets. You will be working with large well known branded suppliers, new innovative brands and our own brand sourcing offices in the far east to deliver inspirational product ranges that meet the needs of our customers.
Working at pace you will need to be adaptive, accurate and efficient in your approach to handling multiple projects at once, whilst prioritising your workload.
What's the job?
• Assisting the Buyer in generating new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income.
• Support the Buyer when sourcing and developing compelling product ranges, through developing relationships with new and existing vendors, which reflect the category strategy
• Support the buying process, with an awareness of impact on cross functional teams, allowing for flexibility adhering to a critical path, that ensures projects are delivered on time.
• With the Buyer, support end to end vendor strategy management including contract and cost price negotiation.
• Assist the Buyer in providing sales analysis on a weekly basis as directed
• Gather insights to support the category pricing hierarchy system via comp shops & online comparisons.
• Within the category Buying team, support the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities and the delivery of promotions and range reviews.
• Co-ordinate and execute the sampling process for range development, including management and approval of packaging.
• Ensure all products and vendors are set up in line with agreed processes, with accurate complete data.
• Conduct regular (digital & physical) competitor store visits to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering.
• Undertake wider administrative duties from time to time as may be reasonably required.
What We Need:
Required Skills & Experience:
• Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint are advantageous
• Ability to understand customer insights and market trends
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Ability to build relationships at all levels
• A highly organised multitasker, with a keen eye for detail, accuracy and achieving deadlines
• Flexible and adaptable
What's in it for me?
• Competitive Salary
• 25% Discount Card for Hobbycraft Stores and Haskins
• Free Onsite Parking
• EV Charging Point
• Free Hot Drinks
• 33 days holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays with an increase each holiday year
• Birthday Day Off
• Hybrid Working
• Company pension contribution – up to 4% contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme provide by Retail Trust
• Cash Health Plan with Health Shield
• Contribution towards eyesight test and glasses
• Subsidised gym membership
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Long service awards and gifts
• Continuous training, development, and performance management
• Colleague Wellness Programme
• A creative working environment
• Colleague Social Events throughout the year including Summer and Christmas events