15 Footwear Buyer jobs in the United Kingdom

Junior Footwear Buyer - Ladies

Kurt Geiger | About Us

We are an inclusive, creative footwear and accessories brand powered by kindness. We want to empower our talent to be confident and true to themselves, the London way. London is our home, our heartbeat, and we draw inspiration from the energy and spirit of the city; its diversity and creativity. For over fifty years our team of in-house shoe and accessory designers have been creating authentic, distinctive designs from our London headquarters. The rainbow is our signature. It represents the good energy and love we have for our community and the many ways we collectively express our individual style.

Responsibilities:

• To develop customer and market-focused own brand product collections, keeping a keen eye on the market, competition, current and forthcoming fashion trends. The product collections should be in-line with Company strategy for the brand.
• To constantly review competition to ensure our product proposition is in line with the market across all key areas: fashion trend, price, quality and availability.
• To actively review and manage supplier relationships and source new vendors that will add value to your specific portfolio and to de-list those vendors that no longer meet the business needs.
• To continually investigate and propose new product opportunities within the relevant branded market to ensure sales are optimised and brand portfolio is continuously reviewed.
• To deliver the intake margin target set seasonally.
• To manage a comprehensive and accurate delivery schedule, that meets and supports the needs of the business and where appropriate deal with any late deliveries either by cancellation or achieving suitable discounts.

The Person:

• Buying experience for a footwear premium/luxury brand
• Existing strong supplier relationships
• Highly organised with excellent negotiation skills
• Possess the ability to drive the brand forward
• Experience working with European and far east suppliers

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary
• Pension and life assurance
• Enviable discounts
• Gym Discounts
• Summer Hours - 3pm Friday Finish
• Half Day, Payday Friday (once per month)
• RetailTrust support
• & so much more!

Our Culture

We’re an energic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Hard work is rewarded with new opportunities at every level and kindness is celebrated in everything we do. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Our Stores

The first Kurt Geiger store opened on London Bond street in 1963. Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop ups, our retail partners include some of the world’s most famous department stores.

Senior Footwear Buyer - Mens Luxury Brands

Kurt Geiger | About Us

We are an inclusive, creative footwear and accessories brand powered by kindness. We want to empower our talent to be confident and true to themselves, the London way. London is our home, our heartbeat, and we draw inspiration from the energy and spirit of the city; its diversity and creativity. For over fifty years our team of in-house shoe and accessory designers have been creating authentic, distinctive designs from our London headquarters. The rainbow is our signature. It represents the good energy and love we have for our community and the many ways we collectively express our individual style.

Responsibilities:

Role Overview:

The Senior Buyer – Luxury Footwear is responsible for driving the commercial success of the luxury footwear category across all channels & partners. This role will oversee product selection, supplier relationships, trading performance, and strategic development of the category. The Senior Buyer will balance brand vision, customer demand, and commercial objectives to deliver strong sales, profitability, and an exceptional product assortment.

Responsibilities:

Buying & Merchandising

• Lead seasonal product selection and assortment planning for luxury footwear across multiple brands.
• Manage end-to-end buying process: range planning, OTB management, negotiations, and order placement.
• Deliver a balanced assortment that reflects customer insights, market trends, and brand positioning.
• Review weekly and seasonal trading performance, making in-season adjustments to maximise sell-through.

Brand & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with global luxury footwear brands.
• Negotiate terms, exclusives, and partnerships to secure competitive advantage.
• Identify and onboard new brands that complement the current portfolio.
• Act as the key contact for suppliers, ensuring clear communication and alignment with company strategy.

Commercial Performance

• Manage a significant sales volume and profit contribution to the overall business.
• Monitor KPIs including sales, margin, stock levels, sell-through, and markdown.
• Analyse market competition and consumer trends to ensure competitive positioning.
• Work closely with Merchandising to optimise stock flow and manage OTB.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing, E-Commerce, and Retail teams to execute launches and promotions.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to deliver impactful in-store and online storytelling.
• Provide insight to leadership on market developments, competitor activity, and consumer shifts.

Leadership

• Manage, coach, and develop junior buyers/admin assistant buyers to build a high-performing team.
• Drive a culture of innovation, collaboration, and commercial focus.
• Represent the footwear category in senior leadership meetings and business reviews.

Skills & Experience

• Previous buying experience in luxury footwear.
• Proven track record of delivering commercial success across multi-brand assortments.
• Strong negotiation skills and established network with global luxury brands.
• Excellent analytical ability, confident with trading reports, margin management, and forecasting.
• Deep understanding of the luxury consumer, footwear trends, and the competitive landscape.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, international retail environment.

Benefits

• Competitive basic salary
• Pension and life assurance
• Enviable discounts
• Gym Discounts
• Summer Hours - 3pm Friday Finish
• Half Day, Payday Friday (once per month)
• RetailTrust support
• & so much more!

Our Culture

We’re an energic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Hard work is rewarded with new opportunities at every level and kindness is celebrated in everything we do. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Our Stores

The first Kurt Geiger store opened on London Bond street in 1963. Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop ups, our retail partners include some of the world’s most famous department stores.

Kurt Geiger | About Us

We are an inclusive, creative footwear and accessories brand powered by kindness. We want to empower our talent to be confident and true to themselves, the London way. London is our home, our heartbeat, and we draw inspiration from the energy and spirit of the city; its diversity and creativity. For over fifty years our team of in-house shoe and accessory designers have been creating authentic, distinctive designs from our London headquarters. The rainbow is our signature. It represents the good energy and love we have for our community and the many ways we collectively express our individual style.

Requirements

Responsibilities:

• To develop customer and market-focused own brand product collections, keeping a keen eye on the market, competition, current and forthcoming fashion trends. The product collections should be in-line with Company strategy for the brand.
• To constantly review competition to ensure our product proposition is in line with the market across all key areas: fashion trend, price, quality and availability.
• To actively review and manage supplier relationships and source new vendors that will add value to your specific portfolio and to de-list those vendors that no longer meet the business needs.
• To continually investigate and propose new product opportunities within the relevant branded market to ensure sales are optimised and brand portfolio is continuously reviewed.

• To deliver the intake margin target set seasonally.
• To manage a comprehensive and accurate delivery schedule, that meets and supports the needs of the business and where appropriate deal with any late deliveries either by cancellation or achieving suitable discounts.

The Person:

• Buying experience for a footwear premium/luxury brand
• Existing strong supplier relationships
• Highly organised with excellent negotiation skills
• Possess the ability to drive the brand forward
• Experience working with European and far east suppliers

Benefits

• Free 24 hour virtual GP access
• Enviable staff discounts
• Harrods discount
• Half Day, Pay Day Friday (once per month)
• Summer Hours - 2pm Friday Finish
• Active social committee who arrange a variety of activities such as office drinks, quizzes, free lunches, movie nights etc
• Gym discounts
• Enhanced pension scheme including life assurance

If you’re successful, you will work for a business which recognises that amazing people are the key to driving our business forward and fulfil our vision of being the world’s leading multi-channel retailer of luxury branded shoes and accessories. We are a fast-paced business where no two days are the same, so you will need to be adaptable; but we will reward your hard-work, commitment and loyalty with a fantastic benefits package and very real opportunities for progression.

We Are One: For Love | For Diversity | For Change | For Equality | For Kindness | For Freedom | Against Racism

• Identify and source new products and suppliers that align with the company's brand image and customer preferences.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers to achieve optimal cost and margin targets.
• Analyze market trends, sales data, and competitor activities to identify purchasing opportunities and risks.
• Develop and manage product assortments for specific retail categories, ensuring a compelling and commercially viable product offering.
• Collaborate with the marketing and visual merchandising teams to develop effective product launch strategies and in-store presentation.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers and actively seek out new partnerships.
• Manage inventory levels to ensure product availability while minimizing overstock and markdowns.
• Conduct regular product performance reviews, making data-driven recommendations for adjustments.
• Stay abreast of fashion trends, consumer behavior, and innovations within the retail industry.
• Prepare detailed buying plans and forecasts to support strategic merchandise planning.
• Travel to trade shows, supplier visits, and international markets as required.
• Mentor and develop junior buyers and assistant buyers.

• Proven experience as a Retail Buyer, with a strong focus on a specific product category.
• Demonstrable success in sourcing, negotiating, and managing product assortments.
• In-depth knowledge of retail buying principles, merchandising, and inventory management.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret sales data and market trends.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in using merchandising software and standard office productivity tools.
• A keen eye for product detail and an understanding of consumer demand.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, Business, Marketing, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience with international sourcing is a plus.

• Develop and execute category strategies to drive sales growth and achieve margin targets.
• Identify new product opportunities and emerging market trends through comprehensive research and analysis.
• Source and select products from a diverse range of suppliers, ensuring quality, value, and compliance with brand standards.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key suppliers and partners.
• Manage the product lifecycle from conception to promotion, including assortment planning and inventory management.
• Collaborate with marketing, merchandising, and e-commerce teams to develop compelling product launches and promotions.
• Analyze sales data, market performance, and competitor activity to inform purchasing decisions and identify areas for improvement.
• Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and manage contractual obligations.
• Stay abreast of industry developments, ethical sourcing practices, and sustainability initiatives.

• Proven experience as a Buyer or Senior Buyer within the retail sector, ideally with experience in e-commerce.
• Demonstrable track record of successfully managing a product category and achieving sales and profit targets.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and market intelligence.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• A keen commercial acumen and a deep understanding of retail buying principles.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems and e-commerce platforms.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet tight deadlines in a remote setting.
• Experience in international sourcing and managing global supply chains is a plus.
• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field is preferred.
• Passion for product, trends, and delivering exceptional value to customers.

• Identify and evaluate emerging market trends, consumer preferences, and competitor activities to inform product sourcing and selection.
• Source and procure a wide range of products across designated categories, ensuring quality, value, and innovation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating pricing, payment terms, and delivery schedules to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.
• Develop and implement effective product strategies that align with the company's brand vision and sales targets.
• Manage the entire product lifecycle, from initial sourcing and assortment planning to inventory management and performance analysis.
• Collaborate with the merchandising team to ensure optimal stock levels and product presentation online.
• Work closely with the marketing and e-commerce teams to develop compelling product launch plans and promotional activities.
• Analyse sales data, market research, and customer feedback to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Prepare and present regular reports on buying performance, category trends, and strategic recommendations to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant product safety and quality standards.
• Manage budgets and P&L for assigned product categories.
• Stay ahead of industry developments and explore new sourcing channels and opportunities.

• Proven experience as a Retail Buyer, Senior Buyer, or Category Manager within an e-commerce or retail environment.
• Demonstrable success in product sourcing, assortment planning, and supplier negotiation.
• Strong understanding of market trends, consumer behaviour, and retail analytics.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in using buying and merchandising software, and e-commerce platforms.
• Exceptional negotiation and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple product categories and deadlines effectively.
• A highly organised and self-motivated individual capable of working independently in a remote setting.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Fashion, or a related field is preferred.

Kurt Geiger | About Us

We are an inclusive, creative footwear and accessories brand powered by kindness. We want to empower our talent to be confident and true to themselves, the London way. London is our home, our heartbeat, and we draw inspiration from the energy and spirit of the city; its diversity and creativity. For over fifty years our team of in-house shoe and accessory designers have been creating authentic, distinctive designs from our London headquarters. The rainbow is our signature. It represents the good energy and love we have for our community and the many ways we collectively express our individual style.

Role Overview:

The Senior Buyer – Luxury Footwear is responsible for driving the commercial success of the luxury footwear category across all channels & partners. This role will oversee product selection, supplier relationships, trading performance, and strategic development of the category. The Senior Buyer will balance brand vision, customer demand, and commercial objectives to deliver strong sales, profitability, and an exceptional product assortment.

Responsibilities:

Buying & Merchandising

• Lead seasonal product selection and assortment planning for luxury footwear across multiple brands.
• Manage end-to-end buying process: range planning, OTB management, negotiations, and order placement.
• Deliver a balanced assortment that reflects customer insights, market trends, and brand positioning.
• Review weekly and seasonal trading performance, making in-season adjustments to maximise sell-through.

Brand & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with global luxury footwear brands.
• Negotiate terms, exclusives, and partnerships to secure competitive advantage.
• Identify and onboard new brands that complement the current portfolio.
• Act as the key contact for suppliers, ensuring clear communication and alignment with company strategy.

Commercial Performance

• Manage a significant sales volume and profit contribution to the overall business.
• Monitor KPIs including sales, margin, stock levels, sell-through, and markdown.
• Analyse market competition and consumer trends to ensure competitive positioning.
• Work closely with Merchandising to optimise stock flow and manage OTB.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing, E-Commerce, and Retail teams to execute launches and promotions.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising to deliver impactful in-store and online storytelling.
• Provide insight to leadership on market developments, competitor activity, and consumer shifts.

Leadership

• Manage, coach, and develop junior buyers/admin assistant buyers to build a high-performing team.
• Drive a culture of innovation, collaboration, and commercial focus.
• Represent the footwear category in senior leadership meetings and business reviews.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Previous buying experience in luxury footwear.
• Proven track record of delivering commercial success across multi-brand assortments.
• Strong negotiation skills and established network with global luxury brands.
• Excellent analytical ability, confident with trading reports, margin management, and forecasting.
• Deep understanding of the luxury consumer, footwear trends, and the competitive landscape.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, international retail environment.

Benefits

• Pension and life assurance
• Enviable discounts
• Gym Discounts
• Summer Hours - 2pm Friday finish
• Half Day, Pay Day Friday (once per month)
• RetailTrust support
• And so much more!

Our Culture  

We’re an energic fast-paced brand that embraces progress and strives for innovation. Hard work is rewarded with new opportunities at every level and kindness is celebrated in everything we do. Our summer working hours accommodate a healthy work life balance. Wellbeing is important to our working culture, which is why we nurture a friendly environment for talent to thrive in, alongside a vibrant social community.

Our Stores

The first Kurt Geiger store opened on London Bond street in 1963.  Today, our brand has global appeal and is distributed in hundreds of cities around the world. We operate over 70 stand-alone stores nationwide, including our new flagship store on London Oxford street, and in over 400 stores globally. Beyond stand-alone stores and retail pop ups, our retail partners include some of the world’s most famous department stores.

We Are One: For Love | For Diversity | For Change | For Equality | For Kindness |  For Freedom | For Unity Against Racism