Job Description

Job Description

At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers. The ones that enable our growth.

We now have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Buyer to join our High Street News & Magazine team at our Support Centre in Swindon.

In the News & Magazine team at WHSmith High Street we are proud to manage the trading performance and supplier relationships over a range of categories including, Newspapers, Magazines, Stickers, Collectables, Lottery, Gift Experiences, Stamps and Entertainment. We are the leading 'bricks and mortar' range retailer of Magazines in the UK, stocking over 1,800 titles over 500 stores with a 20% share of the market across our group. We're also growing as a multichannel retailer with trading responsibility for our online businesses: Whsmith.co.uk , which sells a range of Magazines, Stickers, Collectables and Gift Experiences which complements our High Street stores offering.

The main purpose of an Assistant Buyer is to work alongside the Buying Manager, supporting the management and delivery of the strategy for the relevant category, providing data insight and analysis on the range performance and helping to facilitate promotional plans. This is a great opportunity to start your buying career, to learn and develop within one of the leading buying teams in the industry.

What you will be doing

• Assisting the Buyer in generating new ideas on how to grow sales, margin and supplier income
• Supporting with the management of new and existing projects
• Managing effective relationships with suppliers
• Keeping abreast of market trends and competitor activity to help identify new opportunities as well as changes to our existing offering
• Ensuring the smooth running of promotions and comply with promotional deadlines
• Taking accountability and supporting the team on various projects

What we are looking for

• You will have a basic understanding of business (i.e. buying and stock)
• You will be analytical and have a head for figures as this role is data driven
• A highly organised multitasker, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy
• Someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who is hungry to succeed and make an impact
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel (if you can use pivot tables and VLOOKUPS, that would be advantageous)

How we reward our teams

• Hybrid working model from home and in the office
• 4pm Friday finish
• Flexible Working
• 24 days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
• Family friendly leave
• Competitive pension contribution
• Sharesave Scheme
• Annual Bonus based on company and Personal Performance
• Competitive salary
• Staff discount card for stores and online

About us
Celebrating 230 years, we're proud to have grown and evolved into a globally recognised brand present in over 30 countries around the world, and we're proud to be that air of familiarity people love and trust on their journey, both in life and through life. As a diverse group of over 12,000 colleagues, we are all on the same journey to a better business through our commitments to our planet, people and the communities we serve.

WHSmith have occupied our place as the Hub of the High Street and in our customers' hearts since 1792. Across our diverse estate of c.525 stores on UK high streets, with our wide-ranging store sizes and formats, we sell a large range of products including stationery, greeting cards, art and craft, newspapers, magazines, books and drinks. We are an ambitious team that thrives on pace, collaboration and innovation resulting in a real entrepreneurial culture.

WHSmith are proud to be an inclusive employer, we want our colleagues to feel welcome, and free to be themselves with us.