GEORGE
About the area
GEORGE is a $multibillion global clothing business, trading in the UK, US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Japan. We are one of the UK's leading clothing brands, and with the expansion of GEORGE into ASDA Living and smaller high street stores, it's set to get even bigger. This is a three-year fast-track programme that will build your management and product experience, with the aim of moving you into a role as a Fashion Buyer, Fashion Garment Designer or Fashion Merchandiser at the end of it.
About the roles
We offer 5 Graduate scheme roles every year here at GEORGE, 2 Buying, 2 Merchandising and 1 Design, below are some key responsibilities for each role
Assistant Buyer
Manage department admin relating to buying and product
Working closely with the Design, Merchandising and Garment Technology teams on your product area
Supplier liaison
Sample management
Work with buyer on input into range and design packs
Knowledge of market strategy, customer and competitor profiles
Awareness of department strategy and product strategy
Understand trends and how to interpret them into commercial ranges
Awareness of range construction, Design Pack process, Price architecture, Good / Better / Best Mix.
This position will provide a supporting role to the buyer
Assistant Merchandiser
Managing of intake to ensure stocks are maintained at agreed levels
Maintenance of stock delivery schedule updating any changes on internal systems
Manage department admin relating to merchandising
Working closely with the Buying Team managing critical path, monitoring sales history to trade the department's product ranges for the current and forthcoming seasons
Working with suppliers and garment technologists on critical path progressing, providing information flow between merchandiser & supplier
Support merchandiser in achieving launch availability
Preparation of analysis for product range control and product selection meetings for the relevant department
Assist the merchandiser in preparation of product booking forms for the relevant ranges
Maintenance of range plan with relevant merchandising information
Assist the merchandiser in the creation of markdowns. Gain an understanding of the effect of markdowns on profit
Work closely with the Branch merchandiser to ensure output targets are achieved to all relevant stores
Assistant Designer
Research and collate key trends and competitor information for use of the Design Team
Involved in the production of Design Presentation
Work in conjunction with Designer to produce Design packs to agreed standard inline with critical path
Develop product knowledge and supplier capabilities
Fundamental in preparation for Design and product meetings
Develop proficiency on relevant Cad packages
Working closely with the Buying and Garment Technology teams on your product area
About your development
You'll receive the same soft skills training as graduates anywhere else in ASDA. But we also provide industry-specific training, with the launch this year of the GEORGE Academy.
The 3 year GEORGE degree scheme aims to take you from Assistant to Manager in 3 years, we are looking for the Senior Managers of the future
do you have what it takes?
Year 1 Learning the tools of the trade to become a GREAT assistant and delivering a 6 month business project
Year 2 More responsibility and management training to take you to Junior level, potentially move in to a bigger department where you have responsibility for your own area, delivering an 8 week business project
Year 3 Move in to a Junior role, potentially managing another colleague, more management training to prepare you for the move to Manager.
Examples of the kinds of projects our graduates have worked on include the GEORGE High Street programme, where grads were challenged to create a new-look store design for our children's wear department, getting involved in everything from store layout to how the clothes would be displayed.
They also played a key role in delivering a very high-profile deal to sell Levi's products in our stores. This has obviously had a big impact on our business and reflects extremely well on the graduates involved. Whatever you work on, you can expect direct exposure to high-profile projects, and the scope to make a visible impact early on in your career.
About you
For Design and Buying roles you'll ideally need a fashion related degree, and for Merchandising roles you should have a business related degree. Obviously any relevant industry experience would be beneficial, but the key is having a passion for fashion. You should live and breathe it and be resolute about getting to the top.
Why join in?
Fashion is tough and extremely competitive. But we believe GEORGE offers you the chance to progress and develop through the support mechanisms we have in place and the responsibility we give you in your role.
