Buyer - Books

Whsmithcareers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel retail company is seeking a skilled Books Buyer in London to drive the book category strategy. The ideal candidate will possess commercial experience, strong numerical skills, and a passion for books. You will be responsible for commercial performance and supplier management while working in a fast-paced environment. The role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and generous holiday allowance. Join us and make an impact on the future of books!

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Hybrid working model

24 days holiday + birthday off

Early finish at 4pm on Fridays

Qualifications

• Minimum of previous buying or commercial experience in a relevant field.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the books and publishing market.
• Strong commercial acumen and numeracy skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive the commercial performance of the Books category across all UK Travel formats.
• Deliver and track key KPIs including sales, margin, and profitability.
• Curate an optimised product assortment to delight customers.
• Develop and manage a clear supplier strategy.

Skills

Previous buying or commercial experience

Enthusiasm for books and publishing

Strong commercial acumen

Confident communicator

Skilled negotiator

Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Proficient in PowerPoint

Resilient and adaptable

Strong presentation skills

Problem-solving skills

Proactive and resourceful

Team player

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Advert: Books Buyer Location: London (Aldgate) Contract: Full-time Salary: Competitive + Benefits

At WHSmith, our people sit at the heart of everything we do. For over 230 years, we’ve been a familiar and trusted brand on people’s journeys — in airports, rail stations, hospitals and beyond. Today, we operate in more than 30 countries, powered by a diverse team of over 11,000 colleagues who are passionate about delivering for our customers and our communities.

Our Commercial team thrives on pace, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Now, we’re looking for a Books Buyer to join our UK Travel division — someone with passion, creativity and commercial drive to own and deliver the book category strategy across our Travel estate.

This role is perfect for someone who uses initiative, enjoys autonomy, and is excited by the chance to make a real impact in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll be doing

• Drive the commercial performance of the Books category across all UK Travel formats
• Deliver and track key KPIs including sales, margin and profitability
• Curate an optimised product assortment to delight customers and achieve commercial goals
• Build a robust pipeline of value-creating ideas and initiatives
• Own the category and trade plan in line with the broader business strategy
• Develop and manage a clear supplier strategy, negotiating effectively to maximise value
• Define pricing and promotional strategies
• Source new products and suppliers in line with category objectives
• Lead category projects and trials, collaborating cross-functionally
• Contribute to the annual budget-setting process
• Monitor market trends and competitors to identify new opportunities

What we’re looking for

• Previous buying or commercial experience
• A genuine enthusiasm for books and the publishing market
• Strong commercial acumen and numeracy skills
• Confident communicator with excellent stakeholder management
• Skilled negotiator with the ability to influence at all levels
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Strong presentation and problem-solving skills
• Proactive, resourceful and a true team player

What you’ll get in return

• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus based on company and personal performance
• Hybrid working model
• 24 days holiday + your birthday off + Bank Holidays (with the option to buy more)
• Early finish at 4pm every Friday

If you’re commercially savvy, passionate about books and ready to make an impact in a dynamic retail environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of Books at WHSmith!