I met with Ian towards the end of 2016 and during our meeting he indicated that he was keen to move back into a buying role in retail. Not long after meeting Ian I took on a role with Stax Trade Centres and it was clear to me straight away that he would be a great fit for them.
I arranged for Ian to meet with the Purchasing Director, Simon, and they hit it off immediately; Stax were quick to offer him the position of Range Coordinator, and since starting, the feedback is that Ian has been a fantastic addition to the team. Simon is really pleased with the progress he is making and the positive impact he has had on the wider team & business as a whole.
We thought we’d ask Ian a few questions regarding his career in buying to date:
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When did you first start out in Buying and what attracted you to a career in this field?
I started my career as a stock controller working closely with buyers. After a number of years in that role I felt that moving into buying myself was the next logical step in my career. I got to a point where I felt ‘I can do that!’
2. What does your day to day role involve?
As any buyer will say no two days are the same. An average day involves liaising with branches and dealing with any queries they have, meeting suppliers to discuss current ranges, future promotions, working on future promotions - usually 4 -5 on the go at the same time, plus any internal meetings or dealing with any issues affecting other departments
3. What top three skills do you think make a great Range Coordinator?
- Know your customer – Simply looking at data doesn't tell you who your customer is. You need to overlap this with visiting customers to understand their needs and expectations. Identify potential future business and understand who they believe your competitors are...customers will tell you honestly if you approach it in the right way.
- Know your market - Armed with knowing your customer, you need to understand the role of your business and the role of your specific category. Ask how does the category perform overall? Suppliers and market research companies have endless data to help with this; it's like putting a jigsaw together to see what the marketplace is really like.
- Ability to say ‘no’ - You get offers every day from suppliers pushing new products, promoting others or just clearing their discontinued lines. Look at what's being offered; ask yourself, is it unique, will it add value or will it simply erode current sales? Sometimes saying no gets a better deal next time.
4. What challenges do you face in role in the current market?
Customers can buy products anywhere at varying prices so the need to be competitive whilst delivering the ranges and services the customer requires is massive.
5. What piece of advice would you give to someone starting out their career in Buying?
Always do your research first to work out if it is the ideal route for you. Some people believe it’s a glamorous job but the reality of it is that it can be hard work with unsociable hours sometimes.
6. Did you find it helpful working with a recruitment company which specialises in Buying and how was your experience using Cast UK?
Yes definitely! Cast UK talk the buying language and their specialist knowledge means that they have a real understanding of their clients and candidates. Cast UK were professional and made sure I was always up to date with the status of my application throughout the whole process. It also helped that Rosie was loopy!
7. How are you finding your new role as Range Coordinator?
Really enjoyable! I’ve been there for 2 months now; Stax Trade Centres are a very open and friendly company and this has allowed me to settle in quickly and get on with the job. If you’re looking for a new role in Buying or Merchandising, or you have a vacancy within your team and need top Buying & Merchandising professionals for your business, get in touch on 0161 825 0825 today.
