Product is at the heart of everything we do and we’re looking for an experienced, passionate and driven individual to join Laura James Buying Team. This data-enabled creative team will control the sourcing and development of product to ensure our customers always have right product, whilst achieving gross margin and working capital targets.
Job Title: Junior Buyer
Reports to: Senior Buyer
Role objective: responsible to execute the product development, having a clear understanding of Laura James aesthetics and our customer. With a clear, efficient component and product development you contribute to meaningful growth and profitability within your department. You are responsible to plan and develop the best assortment for our target customers.
Key accountabilities:
- Focus on developing & building product range, full management and leadership of assigned projects. Innovative product conceptualising in alignment with the product strategy.
- Responsible, alongside the senior buyer, in building the range plan for your product department and having a balanced assortment for all customer segments. Responsible to plan, analyse and react, and to work closely with the product, price, profitability strategy in accordance with the department goals.
- Working closely with suppliers and sourcing teams, ensure all products which are developed deliver the design vision and are in line with the product strategy. Negotiating initial cost prices and trading terms to drive increased profit margins.
- Work with the merchandiser to establish key financial parameters for the department and actively contribute to overachieve them.
- Ensure the financial targets are met through effective management & negotiation to achieve margin, lead time and fulfilment objectives.
- Monitor supplier and market activity and undertake research to update own knowledge with the latest trends & techniques to ensure the Laura James products are up to date, high quality & meet current and future customer needs.
- Manage the product procurement critical path for new products and ranges in conjunction with the merchandising/marketing team to ensure all stock is received/photographed in a timely manner. Agree and manage calendar and timelines to ensure all critical dates and development deadlines are met.
- Through the range selection and sign off process ensure that the agreed product strategy and financial targets have been achieved. Creation of mood boards and range presentations.
- With the technical team ensure LJ standards are achieved with a continued focus on improvement, to ensure the product quality maintains the Brand integrity. Ensure all materials used are suitable for the Laura James brand, are fit for purpose and meet the standards set out in the technical guidelines. Carry out responsibilities involving Intellectual Property rights to ensure new product developments do not infringe the rights of a third party.
- Translate the range plans for each collection into visual merchandising guidelines for CS and marketing, communicating key and new lines and product information to help drive sales through all channels.
- Work with the design and sourcing teams to brief products that are in the correct construction, aesthetics and finishes. Responsible for sample reviews to deliver product excellence.
- Provide accurate and concise briefs for product samples, photographic samples and copy write requirements following the critical path .
- Develop information packages for marketing communication related to new products, new features or services and ensure these are kept up to date along the products' lifecycle.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the company wide s team working on projects as required.
- Keep up to date with current trends within the retail industry to inform new ideas for ranges. Attend trade shows and undertake product research and comparative shopping.
- Assist with procuring images and copy for all new products to facilitate speedy uploading of products to the online shops.
- Manage product samples and own-brand sample archive.
- Participate in regular range reviews with the merchandising team; analysing performance and profitability of core ranges, new products and exhibition merchandise to inform future product selections.
- Utilise sales reporting to understand range and product performance, and to inform visual merchandising plans. Understand margin targets and ensure these are met or exceeded when proposing new products and pricing.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
1.Technical skills and experience
- Previous experience as a product developer and must have strong indoor furniture product knowledge and proven ability to manage overall product strategy across a range of product areas.
- Must have a real flair for products and an affinity for the LJ brand and its identified customers.
- Previous experience in KD/ flat-pack furniture development.
2. Strategic insight & planning
- Up to date and knowledgeable in the latest trends styles, patterns silhouettes, fabrics, materials and colours
- A minimum of 3 years experience of developing and successfully implementing a product vision for varied product ranges for a global market
- Must have broad current knowledge & experience of commercial, economic, & market activities, trends & techniques affecting the retail industry including competitors, customers and suppliers
- Constantly strives for improvements in approaches, processes, systems and overall performance.
- Prepared and able to change plans in line with business needs.
- Plans ahead to anticipate events and develops contingency plans.
- Ability to identify key profit drivers and to drive profitable change
3. Commercial Skills
- Strong numerical & analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex technical information
- Must have excellent knowledge and experience of working with the UK and global markets.
- Ability to see the “big picture” without losing sight of the details at all stages ie strategy, planning and trading.
- Must be able to effectively identify which key products and materials are commercially viable & consistent with the LJ brand.
- Proven experience of effectively managing opportunities and risks to achieve the ideal mix of the 2 to drive profitable growth
- Must have an understanding of the constraints and opportunities for product and materials sourcing & development
4. Leadership
- Must be an excellent team leader, able to develop and communicate an inspiring vision to teams, generating motivation, optimism, enthusiasm and energy.
- Has the will to empower and develop individuals and a team
- Able to recognise good performance and deal with underperformance
- Coach and train the team on all aspects of product development and commercial awareness
- Able to juggle competing priorities
5. Communication skills
- Excellent oral, written and presentation skills to all levels
- Must be a proactive communicator
- Able to effectively communicate strategy and product information to a variety of audiences in a meaningful and influential manner
- Impact and influence
- Positively represents the business at all times
- Must have energy, enthusiasm, drive and a “can do” attitude
- Able to effectively influence internally and externally
- Systems skills
- Intermediate excel and word. Ability and experience of using Netsuite an advantage
Nature and Scope
Occasional travel with possible overnight stays
Job Type: Full-time
Application question(s):
- Do you have buying experience in the furniture industry?
- What is your salary expectation?
- What is your notice period?
Work Location: In person
