Graduate Opportunities

Buying

What is it?

Arcadia’s highly successful brands attract customers keen to buy the latest trends and immerse themselves in the current ‘look’. Understanding customers needs, anticipating exactly what will be hanging in their wardrobe months ahead, and ensuring key trends are available is what Buying is all about.

The first step on the Buying career path begins in the role of a Buyer’s Administration Assistant. This position is a predominantly administration based role within Arcadia’s fast moving and influential brand teams. In conjunction with excellent organisation skills it is necessary to possess commercial awareness and an absolute passion for fashion that drives personal ambition. It is also crucial to have an up-to-date knowledge of cutting edge fashion designers as ultimately our buying teams translate the latest catwalk trends for the high street.

Career path

A typical career path for a graduate joining Buying is as follows.

Profile

Jacqueline Convery
Buyers Administration Assistant – Topshop
University of Glasgow – BA Hons Textile Design
Joined September 2005

I have always loved fashion so it seemed the perfect option for me to study Textile Design at Glasgow School of Art. I specialised in print and knitwear but the whole course together gave me the chance to be creative and incorporate painting, drawing and history of art with design.

After graduating I worked as a freelance designer, however, I wanted a job where there was a clear career path in a busy environment and Buying seemed the perfect choice. It gave me the opportunity to work with designers and use my creative skills in a commercial environment within the fashion retail industry.

Arcadia is renowned for its excellent graduate schemes and naturally I wanted to work with the most exciting brands on the high street. I had also worked part time in a Topshop store in Glasgow to learn about the brand and its customers, an experience I still find extremely helpful in my job today. After gaining lots of different skills on the shop floor I then applied via the website, and was successful in securing a graduate’s role in Buying and moved to Topshop Head Office.

I have learnt so much in such a short space of time; there is always plenty of work to be done! However, I know I am developing my skills and I’m working hard towards my next level as an Assistant Buyer.

When I started as a BAA in Topshop, administration took up a lot of my time and I had to be very organised. It’s important to learn about the buying cycle in as much detail as possible and the administration side of my role has really helped cement the foundations of this cycle. This will help me develop my buying skills, crucial for my career progression.

Learning about the buying process has been very interesting. Being part of the buying team means I work closely with the merchandisers to plan the budgets for our departments, we then develop the range with our designers discussing what is happening on the catwalk, the current trends for the season and selecting sketches and fabrics to put into new garments. Supplier relationships are also important, most of our suppliers have an office in London and we are constantly in contact with them, discussing new developments, fabrics, trims and production. We also have fit sessions twice a week where we work with the technical department and fit models to ensure that our garments fit perfectly. I also find lots of inspiration on the streets of London, the weekend markets, gigs and night clubs and summer festivals are great for spotting trends. I cannot imagine working in any other role now!

Every day is different and working in such a fast paced industry is so exciting. The best part of the job is seeing the garments you have worked on in store and in the press – it definitely makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Salary & Benefits

If you are successful and offered a position as a Buying Administration Assistant you can expect to receive the following:

• Structured training and development
• Starting salary of £18,000
• 22 days holiday
• 25% discount on all brands
• Season Ticket Loan
• Participation in Company Bonus scheme
• Contributory Pension scheme

What we are looking for

Buying positions are extremely sought after. In order to make your application as strong as possible, we suggest that you read the profiles and information available on this website as well as each of our brand websites.

What are our education requirements?

• You need to have or be studying for a degree or HND (or equivalent) in a fashion related subject
• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including Maths and English at grades A to C.

How to apply

In order to apply for the position of Buyers Administration Assistant please upload your CV and covering letter by clicking on the link below. Please ensure your covering letter details why you want to work for the Arcadia Group and why you would like a career in Buying.

Please ensure you hold or are studying for a fashion related degree.

There is no closing date for this role as we recruit for this role all year round.

If you have the right to work in the UK and you’re confident that you fulfil all our requirements, please click below to complete the application form. This could be the first step towards your future career.