Buying
I joined Bhs as a Buying Associate within the Home department when I graduated, having studied Fashion and
Textile Management. I have already learnt so much about buying and the industry as a whole.
My responsibilities range from general administration to more creative tasks such as colour approvals and
trend and competitor research. One of the main skills required for this role is organisation! There is always
so much going on at any one time, so you need to be able to cope well under pressure and work as quickly and
efficiently as possible. This fast- paced working environment is the reason I wanted a career in Buying and
I feel lucky to be able to start my career at such a well established company as Bhs, as it puts such
importance on training and development.
One of the best aspects of working for Bhs is they run an excellent training scheme called 'Be the Best'.
As part of my induction I had an overview of the program and then started to work on the skills and
competencies with my manager. This really encourages your career progression as well as setting goals
and targets to develop your learning and capabilities. I find this a great structure in which realistic
goals are set and you are given the responsibility of self development.
The part of my job which I enjoy the most is that no two days are ever the same! There is always some
exciting project happening within my department or the Home Division as a whole.
Kathryn - Buying Associate
I've worked for Bhs for over 5 years. My current role offers a huge variation in responsibilities ranging
from travelling world-wide sourcing products, to working closely with the merchandising team ensuring that
we are delivering a fantastic range whilst driving sales and profit. On top of all of this I need to manage
and motivate my team.
Bhs is a challenging and exciting environment to work in and there's never a dull moment. Having joined
as an Associate Buyer I have been able to progress through the ranks to Buyer through the support of
the 'Be the Best' development programme and of the great people I work with. I would say Bhs has a great
culture - we constantly deliver results whilst still maintaining a friendly working environment.
Sophie - Buyer
