Buyer / Merchandiser

Buyer / Merchandiser – Kings Gym

Location – Hybrid/remote (commutable to Kings Gym locations)

About Iceking Group

Iceking Group are a family owned second generation entrepreneurial business who are actively expanding in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.  As proven operators with the ability to help shape and drive brand strategy, we have a strong people centric culture.

Iceking operate world renowned brands across the Hospitality and Retail sectors including the fastest growing Strength and Conditioning USP Leisure brand in the UK.

Growth in a world of disruption and increasingly complex business challenges, requires us to embrace diversification, evolve our working methods to optimise agility and embrace flexibility for sustained success.  This underpins Iceking’s strategy and purpose with an ambition to develop a generational, multi-brand people organisation that optimises brand performance with a commercial operator lens.

About Kings Gym

Part of Iceking Group, Kings Gym is a multi-unit gym business. The business currently operates 3 gyms sites within London and Sussex with nationwide growth on the horizon, including new sites in Sussex and Kent which will open in 2025.

We are planning expansion of the brand as a franchise opportunity and are looking for a Buyer / Merchandiser to join the team who will help us drive successful growth within our sector.

Job Description

As a Buyer at Kings Gyms, you are a seasoned professional with a strong commercial acumen and a proven track record in buying. Your ability to analyse complex data, understand market trends, and influence stakeholders at various levels enables you to develop and execute category strategies that drive profitable growth and deliver exceptional customer propositions. With your strategic mindset, and adaptability in balancing short and long-term objectives, you are adept at managing high-performing teams, navigating dynamic retail environments, and making impactful decisions that positively influence shareholder value, product performance, and team development.

Your role will involve range building, range selection, product proposition, and planned executions across all channels, with a focus on delivering a customer-centric proposition and achieving target KPIs including sales, margin, stock, availability, and customer satisfaction.

Additionally, you will manage pricing strategies, negotiate supplier funding, and work towards enhancing profitability through effective trading plans and joint business plans with suppliers. You will play a key role in executing range launches, promotions, and events while contributing to the financial management and success product.

To include e-commerce end to end management and expand on Roles and Responsibilities.  Work alongside warehouse operator

Role Responsibilities

• Pitching ideas for new product ranges to key stakeholders in the business. Management of Suppliers to deliver product development and conduct market research to bring new products to market
• Identifying suitable suppliers/manufacturers build and maintain relationships with suppliers and shareholders, ensuring a strong business relationship
• Identifying niche products for the Kings Gyms customer
• Visiting relevant trade fairs to look for new products
• Develop and embed ethical supply chain policies within manufacturing sites
• Work alongside all stakeholders to agree product launch dates and ensure this is delivered end to end across ecommerce and in gym
• Negotiating prices, quantities and delivery timescales with suppliers to negotiate the best cost prices, lead times and payment terms
• Manage pricing across categories to achieve a competitive position, without compromising profitability
• Managing stock levels and analysing purchase data
• Producing and analyse reports and forecasts
• Completing financial and other system administration.
• Maximize the performance of products by establishing a good understanding of your range, competitors and the wider retail market
• Work with internal stakeholders to help maximize sales, profit and efficient stock management
• Constantly on the lookout for improving and bringing in the best possible products, checking reviews as well as refund reports

Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 1 years’ experience in a similar role - experience with buying or purchasing is essential
• Comfortable, confident and experienced in managing overseas suppliers
• Strong commercial awareness
• Dynamic and eager to learn and develop within our company
• Excellent negotiation skills and comprehensive commercial awareness, with the ability to identify trends and consider the impact on stock levels
• Good numerical and analytical skills - proficient in the use of Excel at an advanced level, as well as being confident on other Microsoft programs
• Able to find and extract data and develop a full understanding and awareness of business systems
• Ability to work proactively and re-actively in a fast-paced environment, and keep calm under pressure and when completing multiple tasks
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, able to work in a team
• Excellent eye for detail and able to work in a fast environment

Benefits

• Contributary pension scheme
• 25 days holiday
• Free gym membership across all Kings Gym locations
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme, based on performance
• MediCash health Insurance package
• Mileage paid (aligned with current HMRC rates) from base location (base location TBC)