Job Advert: Books Buyer
Location: London (Aldgate 3 days a week)
Contract: Full-time
At WHSmith, our people sit at the heart of everything we do. For over 230 years, we’ve been a familiar and trusted brand on people’s journeys — in airports, rail stations, hospitals and beyond. Today, we operate in more than 30 countries, powered by a diverse team of over 11,000 colleagues who are passionate about delivering for our customers and our communities.
Our Commercial team thrives on pace, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Now, we’re looking for a Books Buyer to join our UK Travel division — someone with passion, creativity and commercial drive to own and deliver the book category strategy across our Travel estate.
This role is perfect for someone who uses initiative, enjoys autonomy, and is excited by the chance to make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
What you’ll be doing
* Drive the commercial performance of the Books category across all UK Travel formats
* Deliver and track key KPIs including sales, margin and profitability
* Curate an optimised product assortment to delight customers and achieve commercial goals
* Build a robust pipeline of value-creating ideas and initiatives
* Own the category and trade plan in line with the broader business strategy
* Develop and manage a clear supplier strategy, negotiating effectively to maximise value
* Define pricing and promotional strategies
* Source new products and suppliers in line with category objectives
* Lead category projects and trials, collaborating cross-functionally
* Contribute to the annual budget-setting process
* Monitor market trends and competitors to identify new opportunities
What we’re looking for
* Previous buying or commercial experience
* A genuine enthusiasm for books and the publishing market
* Strong commercial acumen and numeracy skills
* Confident communicator with excellent stakeholder management
* Skilled negotiator with the ability to influence at all levels
* Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
* Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
* Strong presentation and problem-solving skills
* Proactive, resourceful and a true team player
What you’ll get in return
* Competitive salary
* Annual bonus based on company and personal performance
* Hybrid working model
* 24 days holiday + your birthday off + Bank Holidays (with the option to buy more)
* Early finish at 4pm every Friday
If you’re commercially savvy, passionate about books and ready to make an impact in a dynamic retail environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of Books at WHSmith!