Buyer, Melbourne

Collins Booksellers

About us

Collins Booksellers is a 100 year-old, iconic book retail brand based in Melbourne. The retail group consists of 25 independently owned, locally operated and community driven franchise bookshops around Australia.

About the opportunity

As a Buyer, you will manage the selection of new release group buys and ensure their availability across our franchise network. You will also be responsible for creating catalogues and building and maintaining relationships with publishers, industry contacts and franchisees.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about books and the retail industry to contribute to the success of our franchise group and the reading experience of our customers.

Responsibilities

• Manage the monthly group buying process for the head office of the Collins Booksellers group, including meetings with publishers, selection of titles and quantities for the group and allocation of volume across the store network.
• Collaborate with publishers, distributors, and suppliers to negotiate favourable pricing, terms, and delivery schedules.
• Analyse sales data, inventory levels, industry trends, and market demand to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Negotiate terms with publishers to purchase key titles that reflect the range for our network of stores.
• Maintain strong relationships with publishers and other suppliers.
• Provide owners/managers of shops support and assistance with buying matters and decisions.
• Oversee the creation and production of catalogues showcasing new book releases, promotions, and special offers, including:
  • Four comprehensive catalogues each year, including negotiating co-op with the publishers, compiling a title list for each catalogue, nominating any price markdowns, liaising with designer over layout and final proofreading.
  • Monthly, in-store catalogues (Great Monthly Reads) for group including compiling a title list for each catalogue, as well as adding titles, blurbs and pricing into a template for printing.
• Develop and execute social media strategies to promote books, engage with customers, and drive online sales.

Qualifications & experience

• Proven experience (3–5 years) as a Buyer in the retail industry, with a focus on books or related products.
• Strong knowledge of the book market, industry trends, and bestselling authors.
• Demonstrated experience in catalogue creation.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) with experience in dealing with multiple internal and external audiences.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build and maintain vendor relationships.
• Ability to interpret sales data and make data-driven decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, inventory management systems and related software (eg. Circle).
• Driven, organised, and proactive individual who can autonomously manage their workload.
• Proficiency in social media management tools and analytics platforms.
• Experience in developing and executing successful social media campaigns.

Benefits

• A permanent full-time opportunity
• Flexible hybrid work options (minimum 3 days on-site)
• Generous staff discount
• Energetic, supportive and collaborative team culture

If you have a passion for books, a keen eye for emerging trends, and a customer-driven mindset, we would love to hear from you. Join our team and contribute to creating an exceptional reading experience across our franchise group.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter outlining your experience to williams@collinsbooks.com.au. Please note, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Applications close 28 July 2023.

Category: Jobs