Category Buyer jobs
Responsible for sourcing and procurement, as well as negotiating contracts and monitoring supply levels, a Category Buyer plays an important part in the success of a business. After all, getting goods at a low price and to a set schedule is essential in order to meet client demands.
The category method of supply chain management is mainly used in the retail industry, although other sectors have also adopted the strategy. This technique involves organising products into smaller groups of related goods.
For example, a Category Buyer for a chain of supermarkets may specialise in paper goods, tinned vegetables, fresh poultry or women's clothing.
By specialising in a particular category, buyers can gain a better understanding of their market and make informed decisions that benefit the company and its customers.
The job of a Category Buyer will vary from employer to employer, but the role usually involves developing and implementing strategies for procuring goods, working with providers to improve the quality of the products and finding ways to reduce costs.
The skills required
Those applying for roles as a Category Buyer will need strong analytic skills be able to demonstrate an ability to evaluate information in a systematic way.
Communication and negotiation skills are a must and you should be just as comfortable working as part of a team as you are on your own. The role of a Category Buyer can be extremely stressful, so an ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines is vital.
Other useful skills include good organisation and self-motivation. Depending on the role, being able to speak foreign languages could be beneficial. You should also be proficient with the various software packages, as well as word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Category Buyer Jobs in Eastbourne
Many of us will have preconceived ideas about the nature of the Eastbourne identity, and unusually, most of us will probably be about right! It’s a south coast seaside town geared up for tourism, and the demographic is tipped towards the upper end of the age range. We might be surprised by the size of it, however. Its population is around the 100,000 mark, making it a rather large town, and if the demographic spread remains the same, this figure will probably grow as we are now living longer.
As well as families, groups, couples and individuals taking a break in Eastbourne, its Victorian splendour is seen as a bracing backdrop for conferences and AGMs, and it’s a sector the town is pushing quite strongly.
From a logistics, procurement and supply chain point of view, these facts are quite interesting, as it’s not just industry that has a need for moving large amounts of things around. Tourism is a huge consumer of perishable and non-perishable goods, and it all needs storing and distributing with its specific requirements being observed. For this reason, Category Buyer vacancies crop up from time to time in Eastbourne, so it’s always worth getting in touch if you’re looking for this kind of work here.
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If you're looking to take the next step in your career with a new position as a Category Buyer, Cast UK can help.
Our team of experienced consultants have a unique understanding of the industries in which we work and this knowledge means we can accurately and quickly find the best candidate for each role, saving both applicants and employers time in the recruitment process.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Category Buyer for your business or find you a job as a Category Buyer then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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