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Topps Group is home to premier UK tile brands including Topps Tiles, Pro Tiler Tools, Parkside, Tile Warehouse & CTD. Our foremost retail brand Topps Tiles stands as the nation’s largest specialist distributor of tiles and associated products with 300 stores nationwide. Our plans for growth across both domestic and commercial markets, across physical stores and online, mean we continuously seek new and fresh talent to complement our current team, as well as developing our people to reach their full potential.
We are currently looking for a Coverings Buyer to join us! As a senior member of the team, reporting into the Head of Buying, this role is responsible for delivering the buying and ranging strategy with a strong focus on category expansion and growth. Working closely with the Head of Buying you will develop and manage our product portfolio, through carrying out the sourcing plan within the prescribed categories and delivering the right products at the right time. This role drives cost-efficiency, supplier performance, and procurement innovation, whilst supporting cross-functional stakeholders to optimise supply chain outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
CUSTOMER / STRATEGY / PLAN
- Developing a category plan & strategy for 1-3 years that includes market leading products and suppliers
- To ensure that the customer can buy from a wide range of products and ranges
- Identify range opportunities with the Head of Buying for Topps Group trading units
- To ensure a market leading range which appeals to all targeted customer groups
- To source ‘exclusive’ ranges bespoke for Topps Group customers
- Drive growth in category expansions and new business channels that are yet to mature
- Negotiate complex contracts and commercial terms with new and existing suppliers
- Analyse market trends and supplier capabilities to inform purchasing decisions
- Review current sourcing methods and suppliers to ensure value for money and ethical sourcing
- To provide the business with real time data on competition, current trends and fashion
- Manage supplier relationships and performance
PEOPLE / LEADERSHIP
- Lead and develop and mentor a team of Junior Buyers and provide wider leadership across the business
- To provide the link between the supply chain and distribution
- To build, maintain and enhance supplier relationships and promote brand
- Work cross functionally across the business to align buying with business needs
FINANCIAL / COMMERCIALS
- Maximise all opportunities to ‘buy better’, driving industry leading gross margins and stock turn
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and contribute to budget control measures
- Lead the team of Buyers to exceed KPI’s and carry out reviews / feedback identifying areas for improvement.
- Overall accountability for product spend, rebate and gross margin targets for area
- To manage projects to agreed times and investment levels
- To review the price point structure and create clear range architecture for colleague and customers
- Commercial awareness of competitor activity
RISK / PROCESS
- Work with Head of Buying to promote best practice risk and process management regarding sign off process for range cycles and continuous refresh of product within store
- Ensure regular reviews are undertaken in terms of price point structure.
- Ensure business risk to currency and region is effectively managed
- Ensure solid exit plan for discontinued stock
- Reduce stock capacity
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
ESSENTIAL
- Strong buying experience and a proven track record of over achievement and high performance in a retail buying role
- Ability to coach, develop and mentor
- A strong interest in home improvement
- International sourcing experience
- Able to undertake significant overseas travel (up to 2 months a year)
- Success in developing healthy long term supplier relationships
- Highly developed influencing and negotiation techniques
- Constructively challenge opinions and status quo
- Demonstrate creative thinking, use of initiative and ‘thinking outside the box’
- Highly commercial with exceptional organizational and influencing skills
- Professional and collaborative in approach, able to develop strong working relationships across the business and with suppliers
- Good leadership skills with the ability to challenge as well as inspire and coach
- Technically knowledgeable
- Outstanding communication skills
- An ambassador for the business
In a culture where hard work is recognised and great results are rewarded; you can look forward to a company bonus that will give you a share of our success (Up to 30% of your base salary). Then there’s a car or car allowance, Private medical via Bupa, generous staff discount, a Share Save scheme, pension and life assurance, a holiday allowance that increases with length of service and a wide range of other benefits. Plus, flexible working, free on-site parking, generous discounts on products and services and more. A lot more. We’re committed to promoting talent from within too, which means you’ll be well-supported to build a rewarding career with an individual development plan and lots of training on offer.
