Assistant Buyer, Homeware
- £30,000 DOE
- Berkshire
We’re working with a design-focused home and furniture business to recruit an Assistant Buyer to join their buying team and support the development and delivery of commercially successful product ranges to their customer base.
You’ll work across buying, product development, supplier coordination, and trading analysis, working closely with design, merchandising, quality, and marketing teams to ensure products are commercial, delivered on time, and aligned with the brand’s aesthetic goals. This role is ideal for someone early in their buying career who is passionate about interiors, and keen to be involved in the full product lifecycle from initial concept through to launch.
Key Responsibilities:
Product Development & Range Support
- Support the Buyer in developing new products from early concept through to launch
- Contribute to range planning and product decisions using trend insight and market awareness
- Build understanding of materials, finishes and supplier capabilities across the category
- Assist with supplier briefing, sample tracking and development timelines
Market & Trend Awareness
- Carry out competitor research and market analysis to develop category knowledge and support product direction
- Track trends and pricing across relevant competitors to highlight risks and opportunities
Critical Path & Delivery Management
- Liaise with internal teams and suppliers to keep projects moving and resolve delays
- Coordinate sample movement across teams including photography and showroom
- Help manage the product development timeline, ensuring key milestones are met
Commercial & Data Support
- Assist with pricing reviews and margin analysis
- Analyse historical sales performance to support future product decisions
- Flag trading risks and opportunities to the wider buying and merchandising teams
Product Information & Cross-Team Communication
- Support product launches by coordinating information for marketing, digital and sales teams
- Act as a point of contact for product-related queries from internal stakeholders
- Maintain physical and digital product reference tools, including swatches and visual trackers
- Ensure product data is accurate and up to date across internal systems
Requirements:
- Early-stage buying or product development experience within retail, homeware, furniture, or a similar consumer product environment
- A passion for textiles, upholstery, or similar would be ideal
- Strong commercial awareness
- Comfortable managing multiple tasks in a fast-moving environment
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Confident working with Excel and other Microsoft Office tools
- A team player with a can do, proactive approach
Diversity & Inclusion: ILMJ values diversity, equality and inclusion and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and identities.
