Buying Team Member

Job Description

We have an exciting full-time buying team member position, ideal for someone starting out or changing to a new career path.

So, if you are in the early stages of your career or have already established experiences, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Working at our Eastbourne office, we are looking for an enthusiastic individual with a passion for what they do.

The ideal candidate for this buying team member position will be capable and comfortable handling direct publisher relationships. You will build a good understanding of our brand, systems, and will be a strong team player.

Gardners is the largest English language physical and eBooks wholesaler and distributor in Europe, providing eBook and audiobook services for publishers, retailers, corporations, public libraries, educational & academic customers worldwide, the ability to offer millions of eBooks and audiobooks direct to consumer purchase and library loan services.

Based within an established team, the buying team member will be responsible for acquiring eBooks and eAudiobooks from existing and new suppliers, liaising with suppliers concerning sales opportunities, growth and development of new/existing product lines and services, and liaising with all levels of management both internally and externally. Previous knowledge of books, be it physical or digital is not essential.

The successful applicants will be responsible for a number of duties including (but not limited to):

• Pro-actively developing existing and new product lines and services.
• Regularly reviewing/analysing sales and supplier terms.
• Closely collaborating with relevant internal departments.
• Maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers for future products. Keeping suppliers up to date with Gardners supplier services.
• Meeting suppliers to determine their needs, negotiating terms, and delivering appropriate presentations on services.
• Attending book fairs and trade events.
• Working with the existing buying team and office to share and cultivate your knowledge of the industry.
• Liaising with other departments within the organisation to ensure projects are completed.
• Inventory control

The role is office based at our Eastbourne site. The hours are from 9am to 5.30pm Monday – Friday.

We welcome applications for this buying team member position from candidates with experience in the following areas: buying, procurement, suppliers, administration, communication skills, MS Office, Outlook, and Excel.

Essential Skills

The ideal candidate for this buying team member role will need:

• Previous buying and/or sales experience, be it retail or other purchasing capacity will be an advantage.
• Excellent project and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise your workload.
• Commercial acumen and an analytical mindset coupled with strong negotiation and relationship building skills.
• Computer literate with a solid understanding of Microsoft Office products, in particular Excel.
• Good communication and organisational skills, supported by strong attention to detail, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
• Pro-activeness and the ability to work on your own initiative but be a team player.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written.
• Resilience with the ability to problem-solve.

About Company

Gardners is one of the world's largest wholesalers of British books, entertainment products and eBooks.

Based primarily from our Eastbourne premises, we are proud to be a family-run business with our staff at the very heart of what we do.

Our departments and teams' combined effort ensures we offer a first-class service to our global customer base, combined with a fast delivery service.

At Gardners, we recognise that our people are our strength, and the diverse talents they bring to our collaborative workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunities employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion across all departments.