Job Specifications

Role: Trainee Buyer

Contract: Full-Time, Fixed Term - 9 months

Location: FatFace HQ, Havant, PO9 1QJ

Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working (3 days per week office based)

Who are we?

For over 30 years, we've travelled, we've laughed, we've grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.

Our mission statement:

Crafting clothes for life's everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.

Our Product formula:

Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified.

We are proud to have featured in the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work 2025 and best places to work for women 2025.

Equality and inclusion isn't an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

As a Trainee Buyer will be working alongside the Buying Team to support the Buying team in delivering key administration for the department, whilst learning the fundamentals of the Buying role.

Role Responsibilities

Sample management:

Managing proto samples upon arrival, labelling, and checking off as appropriate.
Chase in all VM & photo shoot samples as required.
Liaise with suppliers from around the globe to track samples for selection meetings and production approvals.
Be aware of key meetings to prepare samples and information as required.
Chase in samples for fitting and prepare paperwork, filing as required.
Assist in the fitting sessions with sample organisation and administration of the fit log.

Administration:

Daily up-keep of department filling, approvals and any supplier correspondence required.
Supporting across other departments with admin tasks as workload requires.

System:

Support Assistant Buyer in critical path management to ensure key dates are met to maximise launch availability and profits.
Support AB with Product Labelling & Packaging requirements.
Support Buyer with getting Product Online data ready for publishing.
Chase in sustainability certification and update on system.

Trading:

Assist in the creation of the Monday trading packs, understanding best and worst performance.
Use your knowledge of relevant trends to find new product initiatives that you believe are missing from the department's current product offering.

Market awareness:

Visiting competitor and inspirational brands and share opportunities & findings with AB/Buyer.
Updating of competitor analysis on product and pricing on a seasonal basis

Department knowledge

Gain understanding of the department strategy. Produce supplier, competitor, and product information as required.
Develop an understanding of the product development process.
Initial insight into sourcing the right materials and sustainability strategy.
Understand cost price's and how to negotiate the best cost.
What to look for when Approving colour, fabric and fit for production.
Deputise for Assistant Buyer when required.

Skills and Experience

A passion for fashion and the FatFace brand
Have an awareness of key fashion and market trends by gaining inspiration from a variety of sources.
Work experience within a retailer is an advantage.
Fashion / Retail Qualification or in store experience
Enthusiasm to learn, supportive and 'can do' attitude.
Highly organised, you'll be able to proactively manage a wide range of responsibilities throughout the development process.
Work well within a team, both internally and externally.
Align self to companies social and environmental mission and champion any actions that you can directly impact at all times'

Role Competencies

Use of required Product systems and Microsoft Office
Basic understanding of the Buying working practices, buying lifecycle and terminology.
An understanding of the FatFace customer & our competitors.

Key Contacts and Relationships:

Internally: Product team, VM & Phot studio team.
Externally: Suppliers.

FatFace Benefits:

Financial & Protection Benefits

Sick pay allowances
Critical Illness Income protection/ Death in service (for salaried colleagues)
Pension scheme - with net deduction and salary sacrifice options
Dental insurance (colleague funded)

Discounts & Perks

60% off FatFace products
25% discount at Next stores (across full price products)
O2 phone discount
Discounted gym membership
Cycle to Work scheme (for salaried colleagues)
EV vehicle scheme (for salaried colleagues)
Perkbox - our online platform offering:
Day-one access
Exclusive brand discounts
Wellbeing content
Home workouts and more

Health & Wellbeing

Specsavers eye care scheme
Eye tests and contributions to glasses
Free period products
EAP support 24/7 via UNUM, Retail Trust, and Fashion & Textiles Support

Learning & Development

THRIVE - our learning management system:
Day-one

About the Company

MADE FOR LIFE. Considered style. Trusted quality. Responsibly sourced. Proud to be a B Corp(tm). FatFace is an active lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer proudly based in the UK. Born in 1988, FatFace has grown from selling just a few t-shirts and sweatshirts to become one of the UK's most iconic, multi-channel retail brands stocking a wide range of Womenswear, Menswear, Childrenswear, Footwear, and Accessories. With over 200 stores in the UK, Ireland and the USA, together with established e-commerce and wholesale ... Know more