Ready for What’s Next in Travel Retail?
We’re growing fast at Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland — and we’re looking for a Toys Buyer to help shape the future of retail across our expanding portfolio.
Job Purpose
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic retail organisation where every day brings new challenges, product launches, and commercial opportunities. As the Buyer for the Toys category, you will lead the end‑to‑end buying strategy to deliver a compelling, profitable, and customer‑focused product range. Working closely with suppliers, commercial teams, stores, and senior stakeholders, you will drive strong sales performance, healthy margins, and an exceptional customer experience. This role is also a fantastic step‑up opportunity for an experienced Assistant Buyer or Junior Buyer ready to take on full category ownership and broader commercial responsibility. The position includes commercial ownership of our branded LEGO and MINISO stores—covering product selection, supplier management, and execution of an engaging in‑store range that reflects customer demand and brand standards.
Benefits
- Bonus – earn up to 15% bonus on top of your salary
- 25 days holiday – plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy or sell up to 5 days to suit your needs
- Up to 25% in‑store discount
- Cash Plan – claim back everyday health costs such as dental, optical, and physio
- Pension – company will top up your future with up to 3% monthly contribution to your pension pot
- Life assurance – protection for your loved ones with 2× your base salary in life cover
- Non‑contractual benefits wholly at company discretion and subject to change
Key Responsibilities
Product Buying, Range Planning & Category Ownership
- Develop and execute the toys category strategy across core, seasonal and trend‑led ranges.
- Lead buying and assortment planning for LEGO and MINISO branded stores.
- Analyse customer behaviour, sales data and market trends.
- Present commercially driven range proposals to senior stakeholders.
Supplier Management & Negotiation
- Build and maintain strong relationships with toy suppliers.
- Negotiate cost prices, trading terms, promotional funding and exclusivity opportunities.
Commercial Performance & Insight
- Review weekly and monthly trading performance.
Deliver actionable insights to improve sales, margin and stock productivity.
Oversee promotional activity, pricing changes and markdown strategies.
Monitor competitor activity and market developments.
- Review weekly and monthly trading performance.
- Deliver actionable insights to improve sales, margin and stock productivity.
- Oversee promotional activity, pricing changes and markdown strategies.
- Monitor competitor activity and market developments.
Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination
- Work with supply chain teams on stock flow, replenishment and delivery timelines.
- Maintain optimal inventory levels across Toys, LEGO and MINISO stores.
- Minimise overstock and prevent stockouts.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Marketing on product launches and seasonal campaigns.
- Work with Store Operations to support stores in strong product execution.
Qualifications
- 3-4 years’ experience in buying (experience within toys or kids’ categories preferred but not essential).
- Strong Excel skills (PivotTables, VLOOKUP, SUMIF, data manipulation).
- Experience analysing large datasets and generating commercial insights.
Key Skills
- Strong negotiation and supplier management capabilities.
- High commercial awareness and product intuition.
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
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