We're looking for a detail-focused Junior Buying & Merchandising Assistant to join our commercial team at our Market Harborough HQ. You'll support the buying team with day-to-day tasks like raising purchase orders, keeping stock levels up to date across our channels, and pulling together data to help inform our range decisions. It's a brilliant way to get hands-on experience in buying and merchandising, learning the ropes from a friendly, experienced team. If you're organised, good with numbers, and keen to build a career in retail buying, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Supporting the processing and monitoring of purchase orders with suppliers, helping flag delays or issues as they arise
- Updating product and stock information across our internal systems, keeping data clean and current
- Supporting the Merchandiser with sales analysis and stock reporting; helping pull together the numbers that shape our decisions
- Helping monitor stock levels across retail stores, online, and wholesale channels, flagging any issues to the team
- Supporting weekly and monthly reporting to keep stakeholders informed
- Conducting comp shopping research to track market trends and competitor activity
- Assisting with the development and maintenance of our rolling range plan, helping us stock the right products at the right time
- Ad hoc data analysis and reporting as the team needs it
What We're Looking For
- Some experience or a keen interest in buying, merchandising, or a similar data-focused role (this could be through a previous job, placement, or study)
- Comfortable with Excel and/or Google Sheets, and happy to build on your spreadsheet and formula skills
- Great attention to detail; you naturally double-check your work
- Confident working with numbers, with an eagerness to learn how to spot patterns and flag anomalies
- Reliable, self-motivated, and proactive, you don't wait to be asked twice
- Genuine interest in retail and e-commerce; you notice trends and products around you
- A positive attitude and willingness to learn (the buying world moves fast!)
- Good communicator, comfortable liaising with suppliers and internal teams
Hours & Flexibility
- Full time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
- Occasional ad hoc support during peak trading periods
What We Offer
- Genuine opportunity to build a career in buying and merchandising
- Experience across retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels
- Friendly, fast-paced working environment where your contributions count
About Us
WE ❤ SOCKS
Our family business focuses on designing personality-led socks with a nod to British and European humour and culture. You can find our full collection online or visit us in-store - we love meeting fellow sock lovers!
Find us in some of our favourite cities: Brighton, Oxford, Edinburgh, Cambridge, York, Chester, Newcastle, St Andrews, Bristol, Windsor, Cardiff, Greenwich and soon to be Royal Tunbridge Wells and Exeter ..... Or you can simply shop online!
Benefits:
- Company pension
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Why Socktopus?
- What's your favourite sock?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
