Junior Buyer - Gardening

We have an exciting opportunity for a Junior Buyer to join our Gardening team within Buying & Merchandising, based in our Central Support Office in Lasswade. You will work alongside the Buyer/Senior Buyer to source and develop commercial ranges and unique products that will create the reason for customers to shop at Dobbies. You will work on developing relationships with suppliers to get the best range and commercial terms for Dobbies.

Responsibilites

• Build and manage critical path with key business stakeholders
• Develop supplier relationships to ensure product at best price and quality
• Meet company KPIs on sales margin in specific area
• Begin to understand supply chain and work to ensure stock availability
• Review consumer buying patterns to help understand future trends
• Ensure product launch in line with seasonal launch dates
• Attend trade shows and visit suppliers, developing supply base to achieve competitive advantage
• Regularly review performance indicators, such as sales and discount levels and propose actions
• Attend trade fairs to assist in the selection and assembly of new collection of products
• Write reports and forecast sales levels
• Working within multi channel retailing, ensuring product is available and represented across all selling channels

Who we are looking for

• Strong analytical skills
• Commercial awareness
• Creative with an eye for trends and future opportunities
• Comfortable in negotiation
• Ability to cope with the pressure of having to make important decisions and meet tight deadlines
• Positive energy and a strong mind to succeed
• Confident presentation style
• Drive and determination
• Numerical and IT proficient
• A passion for retail
• Can demonstrate our values at all times – we’re one team, getting better everyday. We bring a smile. We live and breathe gardens. We make it work for our customers.

What we offer

• Holiday – enjoy a well deserved break with 33 annual leave days per year (pro-rata for part time)
• Discount – treat yourself with generous uncapped discount across our stores with 50% off in our Restaurants, 25% off in the Garden Centre and 10% off in our food halls
• Hybrid working – a combination of office and home working to help balance your work life balance
• Pension – save for the future with our company contributed enhanced Group Pension Plan
• Season ticket loans – spread the cost of travel with an interest free loan
• Access to Stream – support your financial wellbeing, with ability to access earnings ahead of pay day, save for the future and financial advice
• Access to Retail Trust – seek confidential support, access to a Virtual GP, free counselling service and discounted retail rewards with our employee wellbeing platform
• Access to Dobbies Academy – continue your development with our eLearning platform and development programmes
• Study assistance – invest in your professional development with funded courses and qualifications
• The little things to keep you going through the day – free tea, coffee, and milk
• Collaborative office space – with access to our wellbeing room, learning resources and even a book swap
• Invites to our annual company conference, summer and Christmas social events

About us

At Dobbies, we’re proud to have a history dating back to 1865. We were founded by James Dobbie and are the only garden centre retailer to have stores in every nation across the UK.

Our passion and joy for gardens and plants is what makes us special. In our stores, we showcase this through own brand and branded products, concession partners and services. We champion garden living all-year-round.

Many of our stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, where customers can enjoy refreshments or meals in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

We offer a calendar of events and experiences that bring people and communities together, and we have a national charity partner that both our colleagues and customers raise money for,

We’re committed to being a great place to work. We’re one team and we encourage our colleagues to be the best version of themselves, every day; to share their wins and celebrate success. Together, we make it work for our customers.