Location: Bristol (primarily office-based)
Salary: £29,000–£31,000 FTE (£23,200–£24,800 for 32 hours), depending on experience
Hours: 32 hours per week
About USTUDIO
USTUDIO is an independent design store and online retailer based in Bristol. We curate a considered collection spanning stationery, home accessories, fragrance & self care, craft chocolate & food, design objects and lifestyle accessories from independent brands around the world.
We believe good retail is about more than simply stocking products. Every brand we work with has been chosen because it has a story, a point of view and a genuine passion for what it makes.
As we continue to grow our online business, we're looking for someone who can become an integral part of our buying and merchandising team, helping ensure the right products are in the right place at the right time while keeping our buying operation running smoothly.
The Role
This role exists for one simple reason: we want our founders to spend more time discovering exceptional brands, building supplier relationships and growing the business — and less time creating purchase orders and managing administration.
You'll become the operational backbone of our buying function, taking ownership of purchasing administration, merchandising coordination and supplier communication while working closely with the founders on new product launches, collection development and commercial strategy.
You'll begin by supporting buying decisions and quickly develop the confidence to anticipate what needs ordering, identify commercial opportunities and take ownership of key areas of the buying process.
ResponsibilitiesBuying & Purchasing
- Create and issue purchase orders.
- Monitor stock performance and make commercially informed reorder recommendations.
- Liaise with suppliers regarding deliveries, lead times and availability.
- Manage order confirmations and maintain accurate delivery schedules.
- Resolve shortages, damages and invoice discrepancies.
- Maintain accurate cost prices and supplier records.
- Coordinate overseas shipments and develop an understanding of import procedures.
Merchandising
- Review product performance and identify replenishment opportunities.
- Prepare reports highlighting stock risks and commercial opportunities.
- Help coordinate seasonal launches and new product arrivals.
- Maintain accurate product merchandising, categorisation and presentation across our ecommerce and inventory systems.
Product Administration
- Coordinate product information, specifications, imagery and launch content.
- Maintain accurate inventory and product records.
- Support the launch of new products across our online store.
- Help ensure our product data remains accurate, consistent and well organised.
Supplier Relationships
- Build positive relationships with independent brands and distributors.
- Chase samples, marketing assets and product information.
- Assist with onboarding new suppliers.
- Help maintain smooth communication throughout the buying process.
About You
We're much more interested in attitude than years of buying experience.
You don't need to know everything on day one, but you do need to enjoy bringing order to complexity.
You're the sort of person who notices when something doesn't look right, enjoys improving systems and takes pride in getting the details right. You're naturally organised, curious and proactive, and you're comfortable juggling multiple priorities without losing sight of the detail.
You may currently work in buying, merchandising, retail operations, product administration or ecommerce, but we'd also love to hear from people in other commercially focused roles where organisation, accuracy and initiative are valued.
You'll ideally have:
- Exceptional organisational skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication.
- Confidence working with spreadsheets and digital systems.
- A proactive approach to solving problems.
- Commercial awareness and curiosity.
- An appreciation for good design, branding and independent businesses.
Experience with Shopify, inventory management systems or purchasing would be beneficial but isn't essential.
What You'll Learn
Working directly alongside our founders, you'll gain first-hand experience in:
- Product buying and curation.
- Supplier negotiation.
- Independent brand discovery.
- Ecommerce merchandising.
- Retail strategy.
- Product launches.
- Commercial decision making.
- International sourcing and import procedures.
This is a role with genuine opportunity to grow as the business grows, taking on increasing responsibility as your experience develops.
Why Join USTUDIO?
You'll join a small, passionate team where your work has a visible impact on the business every day.
Ideas are encouraged, responsibility comes quickly and you'll gain exposure to every stage of the buying process. No two weeks are the same. One day you might be coordinating deliveries from Denmark or Japan; the next you'll be helping launch a new fragrance collection, analysing stock performance or researching emerging design brands.
We're a collaborative team who enjoy solving problems, improving the way we work and discovering exceptional products. If you're naturally organised, commercially minded and excited by beautifully made products, we'd love to hear from you.
How to Apply
Alongside your CV, we'd love you to tell us about a product, brand or retailer you've discovered recently that you think is brilliantly executed, and why (around 200 words).
We're less interested in the "right" answer than we are in understanding what catches your attention and how you think.
Pay: £29,000.00-£31,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Store discount
Application question(s):
- What interests you about this role at USTUDIO?
- Tell us about a product, brand or retailer you've discovered recently that you think is brilliantly executed, and why.
Work Location: In person
