Natalie, Assistant Buyer – Jersey and Boardwear
Tell us about your career to date.
I did a BSC (Hons) in International Fashion Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University, working on the Buying team at Debenhams Head Office in my industrial placement year. After completing my course I went to the USA to do a graduate program with Limited brands (they own Victoria’s Secret among other labels). Whilst I was there, I worked in their sourcing department.
What do you do in your role?
My role’s really varied. I assist the Buyer in developing products from a prototype all the way through to bulk production. It’s part of my job to ensure that products for our own lines are “brand right”. It’s also important to ensure that everything we stock suits our customers needs – and that we’re keeping up with the latest trends in the market. So regular directional and competitive shopping trips are a feature of my job.
I also spend a lot of time liaising with our suppliers, negotiating costs, and resolving issues – whilst ensuring that deliveries still arrive on time. We deal with suppliers worldwide and there are sometimes opportunities to visit factories, as well as attending supplier meetings and trade fairs.
What do you like about working at Blacks?
It’s an interesting place to work at the moment because of the drive towards stocking more fashionable clothing in store – like the Peter Storm Lifestyle brand I’m working on at the moment. We’re now offering boardwear brands and developing more must have casualwear items alongside the more traditional outdoor products which are always going to be our heritage. An example of this is our One Earth brand, with its organic cotton t-shirts carrying messages about the environment. It’s an exciting time at the moment. I think we have a great opportunity because we don’t have a set target customer. Anyone of any age might come into one of our stores.