Footwear Buyer | Established - Senior | Circa £55,000 + Benefits | Manchester
Fuel your passion for footwear in a fast-paced, brand-driven buying environment.
What You'll Be Doing
As a Branded Footwear Buyer, you'll be the driving force behind building and delivering compelling, commercial, and trend-led branded footwear ranges. You live and breathe footwear, understand the nuances of branded assortments, and know how to turn data into sell-out collections. From strategy to store floor, you're all about creating the perfect line-up for our customers-across all channels.
Your Key Missions As The Buyer
Planning & Strategy
* Lead the seasonal strategy for your category-collaborating closely with the Head of Buying and Trading Manager
* Present your vision to the Buying & Merchandising Director with confidence, aligning to our wider commercial goals
* Analyse seasonal performance and market trends to inform data-led, customer-first decisions
* Ensure ranges are tailored to store footprint, fascia, and channel needs, driving sell-through and limiting markdowns
* Understand the branded landscape: from positioning and pricing to product mix and target customer
* Use customer insight and trend forecasting to shape future range builds and category direction
* Collaborate with Merchandising to produce detailed seasonal sign-off packs with clear sales and margin targets
* Identify new commercial opportunities to grow market share and keep us ahead of the curve
Range Creation & Execution
* Curate standout, brand-led assortments that speak directly to our customer profiles
* Champion the critical path-ensuring range selections are delivered on time and with impact
* Attend buying appointments, trade shows and brand meetings with a clear plan and purpose
* Work with brands to develop exclusive or collaborative products that give us a point of difference
* Build seasonal 'go-to-market' strategies across store and online
* Secure funding and support from brands to deliver meaningful marketing activations and in-store/online campaigns
* Feed into VM and space planning to ensure premium presentation of your range
* Partner with marketing teams to drive footfall and customer engagement with the right product, in the right place, at the right time
Trading & Performance
* Monitor weekly KPIs and performance metrics to flag risks and opportunities
* Drive in-season trading activity-including pricing, stock movement and marketing pushes
* Contribute to weekly trading meetings and write monthly reports to inform future decisions
* Work closely with Merchandising to ensure stock turns are optimised and profit is maximised
* Regularly visit stores to assess product performance, presentation and local opportunities
Partnerships & Commercial Negotiation
* Manage and build strong supplier relationships to drive value beyond just product
* Negotiate commercial terms-think payment terms, returns, marketing support and margin improvements
* Monitor supplier SLAs and ensure brand partners deliver against expectations
Leadership & Collaboration
* Lead by example, promote collaboration across departments and champion a positive culture
* Coach and support junior team members through regular feedback and development planning
* Share best practices and contribute to a 'right first time' mindset across the team
* Encourage innovation and learnings to shape smarter buying practices
What We're Looking For
* Proven experience in a branded buying role-footwear experience is a must
* Commercially sharp, with strong planning, negotiation and analytical skills
* Excellent brand awareness and understanding of customer behaviours and retail dynamics
* Confident communicator with previous budget and financial accountability
* Experience managing or mentoring junior team members is a bonus
* A passion for product and a genuine love for footwear trends, brands and innovation
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