Buyer

Job Title: Buyer
Reporting to: Head Of Buying and Merchandising
Working with: Fulham Group (incorporating FFC, FFC Foundation and Fulham Pier)
Based at: Training Ground and other Club Sites

Position Purpose

Support the Head of Buying and Merchandising executing the retail strategy, with particular focus on maximising sales through excellent product selection, range building with the Merchandiser, buying administration and the adequate availability of product across all categories in all retail channels (physical stores, shop.fulhamfc.com, and 3rd party online marketplaces).

Requirements and Responsibilities

Purchasing a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices, to enhance revenue and profit. Researching new markets, products and manufacturing processes. Identifying quality standards and ensuring that all products meet those standards. Collating customer feedback, negotiating with suppliers to agree prices, quantities, delivery schedules and exclusivity deals.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the responsibilities of the role:
• Work with the Merchandiser across all product categories, including providing administrative support as required.
• Develop a deep understanding of the Fulham FC Buying calendar, criterial path and supplier quantity deadlines.
• Monitors the entire product lifecycle seeking further enhancements of ranges and products.
• Select relevant products for the consumer journey for both online and instore
• Maintain supplier relationships and conduct robust price negotiations to maximise the intake margin
• Conduct robust product development briefs to the supply base
• Support the Head of Buying and Merchandising with range reviews to build future product ranges.
• Active in the purchase of the matchday kits and training wear
• Identify new product opportunities by staying informed on market trends
• Develop an understanding of the football leagues fonts and badge requirements.
• Present the weekly sellers to the team with the merchandiser
• Responsible for creation of product files on the stock management system (currently RSS).
• Responsible for creating and amending all purchase orders, as directed by the Buying and Merchandising Manager
• Responsible for providing suppliers with product barcodes and checking accuracy.
• Responsible for sample requests and documentation of gold and green seals for sign off
• Responsible for documenting, sending, and receiving samples for photography for the online store and Marketing campaigns
• Develops an understanding of the analytics for the online store
• Creates the visual aspects of the assets with the Merchandiser for execution by the external photography team
• Monitor and chase the deadlines on the Marketing Calendar to ensure timely delivery of digital assets to support in-store and online sales campaigns.
• Visiting stadium store to develop continuous understanding of the impact of the Buyer role on practical requirements in-store, and vice-versa.
• Conduct bi-weekly meetings with the Marketing team with the Merchandiser to ensure all asset requirements are actioned
• Executes all packaging requirements with the supplier base as per the brand guidelines
• Conducts supplier visits, exhibitions, competitive store analysis with the Head of Buying and Merchandising to track competition to enhance the product offering.
• Ensure the quality of the products are maintained and the Fulham IP is executed as per the brand guidelines on all products
• Complete product approvals in the Cuservi system


Essential and Desirable

The Buyer must:
• 2-3 years’ experience in a similar role
• Educated to degree level
• Fashion and souvenir buying
• Excellent commercial awareness.
• Presentation skills and the ability to explain product successes and failure clearly.
• Creative, product focused and accurate with attention to detail
• Thrives under pressure and meets tight deadlines with quality results.
• Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of relationship building.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.
• An ability to work well and maintain focus, accuracy, and pace under pressure.
• Positive, enthusiastic thinker with an ability for practicalities.
• Pro-active, energetic and eager to learn and develop.
• Knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint and an aptitude for learning new systems.
• Keen collaborator

Ideally, Buyer will have:
• Experience building relationships with external partners and suppliers.
• Product development experience
• An active interest in retail sports and the football industry
• An understanding of cultural differences and how this can impact working relationships
• An interest in globalisation, and how events in another part of the world can affect how business is carried out.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced retail environment

OUR VALUES
Pioneers • Confident Custodians • Action Orientated • Open & Inclusive • Service Excellence

THE BEHAVIOURS WE EXPECT

• Pioneers
Progressive and forward thinking, creative and brave in decision making. Does not feel constrained by conventional ideas or past decisions.

• Confident Custodians Ambassadorial and proud of the Club.
Leads by example and makes decisions which support the long-term interests of the Club, ahead of personal desire.

• Action Orientated
Action-focussed, with a positive, ‘can-do’ approach. Meets deadlines and uses the Club Values to make sound business decisions.

• Open & Inclusive
Empowers others and is collaborative. Works with colleagues without hierarchical boundaries and acts with honesty and integrity.

• Service Excellence
Goes above and beyond in serving internal and external customers. Understands that success is about mindset, not facilities.

THE MAXIMS WE FOLLOW

Success comes to those who want more, expect more, do more

Be present for your colleagues. Work hard, work together, be kind and respectful

Service Excellence begins internally. Delivering excellence to each other drives our collective success

Celebrate our success. Be proud of the work that you and your colleagues do to make the Club great.

Do not settle for mediocrity. Deliver excellence and expect the same from your colleagues

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EDI

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to our staff and those who want to join us. We treat our staff and those with whom we interact fairly and impartially and in line with our Equal Opportunities Policy. We believe that diversity within our workforce is key to our success and we recruit from a wide pool of talent. A key pillar of our EDI Strategy, “Fulham For All” is our commitment to a workforce that is represented by different genders, ethnic diversity and the disabled community. We therefore encourage applications from women and disabled candidates, we well as those of black, Asian or mixed-heritage.

OUR APPROACH TO SAFEGUARDING

We believe that all our staff have a responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk who are under our care or using our services or facilities. As part of our commitment to provide a safe environment for those children and adults at risk, we require that all staff:
• Understand and comply with the Club’s Safeguarding policies and procedures, including (without limitation) by following safer recruitment practices and knowing how to refer concerns;
• Take responsibility to have, and maintain, all applicable checks and documents, including (without limitation) by having up to date Safeguarding certificates, DBS checks, qualifications and CPD;
• Maintain the highest standards of professional conduct; and
• Be vigilant and report incidents of poor or concerning behaviour, using the proper channels.