Product Developer

Product Developer - Off-Price | Full-Time | Leeds

Purpose of the Product Developer role:

As a Junior Product Developer, you will play a vital role within our Product team. You will source and manage a commercial range of products, working with sales to achieve budgets / margins within the agreed wholesale and Retail price architecture. Managing a team, where relevant and your ranges / customer orders under the guidance and training of your manager.

Product Developer Responsibilities:

Strategy:

• To plan, design (where applicable), and source a commercial range of products within a structured supplier base for our wholesale markets.
• To present your ranges and projects to senior management and the sales team ahead of customer meetings.
• To manage the product development process and bulk orders to an agreed critical path.
• To achieve the best garment fit / product by working closely with QA and design where applicable.
• To manage and create seasonal product boards and CAD booklets for seasonal launches and customer projects.
• To negotiate with suppliers and maintain good working relationships.
• Full understanding of customer needs to maximise profits and provide a commercially viable range for their selection.
• Working to customer briefs and opportunities to develop products and stock proposals to secure new orders in current and new categories.
• To increase sales and profit by remaining competitive and innovative in line with our wholesale competitors.
• To assist in sourcing / developing new suppliers to service our portfolio, in line with our Ben Sherman strategy.
• Liaising with suppliers and chairing supplier meetings.

Trade and Planning:

• Manage the critical path to ensure all dates are adhered to and delivered in full with no delays.
• Working with the merchandisers to ensure every customer order is completed in time and following any customer specific requirements.
• To analyse performance and to predict future trends, forward plan and innovate - always ensuring you are fully aware of competitors' activities and products, be that adjacent brands or retailers.
• Oversee all web photography where required for any RRP and selling shoots that are agreed.
• Working closely with sales to support customer projects and initiatives to drives sales and opportunities.

Knowledge & Skills required:

• Knowledge of casual garments / formal garments / fabrics / constructions and factory capabilities
• Creative flair - ability to balance creative product design with a commercial eye to create ranges and follow briefs from customers
• The ability to cope with the pressure of meeting tight deadlines and being reactive, managing and re-prioritising tasks where required
• Presentation skills - visual, verbal and written
• Organisational skills - the ability to manage the critical path from product development to dispatch
• Team player - ability to manage working relationships at all levels and be hands on supporting the department to achieve strategies and budgets
• Numerate - working alongside sales to support margin calculations and supplier costings
• Negotiation skills - ability to work with suppliers to agree the best price for a product while maintaining quality requirements in line with the brand and any customer requirements
• Understanding of the clothing industry & trading environments. Broad knowledge of either retail or wholesale environments
• Strategic thinker - able to look forward, innovate and identify new opportunities
• Keen follower of the menswear market & trends
• Self-motivated

BBBH34085