At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead DFYNE's global buying strategy and build strong supplier partnerships.
- Company: Join a fast-growing brand focused on fitness and lifestyle.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, unlimited holidays, free gym access, and flexible working.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive work family with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a dynamic company and drive commercial success.
- Qualifications: Senior buying leadership experience in high-growth brands required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
Work Location: Onsite
About You: Are you a commercial strategist, a margin driven operator, and a relationship builder who knows how to turn great ideas into commercially successful ranges? Do you understand customers, trends, and the psychology behind why people buy and how to build ranges that deliver sell through, profitability, and brand consistency? Are you as comfortable negotiating with suppliers as you are analysing performance data, and do you thrive in fast paced, high growth environments where you can build, optimise, and scale? If you bring a blend of commercial sharpness, operational discipline, and customer first thinking, DFYNE may be the place for you.
About the role - DFYNE Your Career: The Buying & Merchandising Director will lead DFYNE’s global buying function. Owning supplier partnerships, commercial negotiations, range planning, cost optimisation, and stock flow. You’ll build a buying engine that delivers quality, reliability, and strong margins, ensuring DFYNE’s products land on time, at the right cost, and at the right commercial impact.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own DFYNE’s global buying strategy, ensuring commercial strength, supplier reliability, and operational feasibility.
- Build, lead, and develop DFYNE’s buying team, creating clear accountability, performance expectations, and succession plans.
- Establish KPIs and performance standards across the buying function, ensuring alignment with commercial and operational objectives.
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on commercial outcomes, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Lead seasonal and annual range planning from a commercial perspective (quantities, cost targets, supplier allocation, timelines).
- Build and manage supplier relationships that deliver quality, consistency, and ethical standards.
- Negotiate costs, terms, MOQs, and lead times to maximise margin and minimise risk.
- Manage critical path and production timelines, ensuring on-time delivery and smooth stock flow.
- Use performance data to optimise buying decisions, forecast demand, and refine future commercial plans.
- Partner with Product, Design, and Marketing to ensure commercial alignment.
- Ensure compliance, quality assurance, and ethical sourcing across all suppliers and factories.
- Monitor market trends and competitor pricing to inform commercial decision-making.
- Drive continuous improvement in buying processes, supplier performance, and cost efficiency.
- Travel internationally to suppliers, factories, and key commercial partners when required.
Experience Needed:
- Senior buying leadership experience in a high growth brand, ideally fitness, lifestyle, fashion, or consumer goods.
- Proven track record of delivering strong margins, cost optimisation, and supplier performance improvements.
- Demonstrated success in global supplier management, negotiation, and production oversight.
- Experience working with international suppliers, factories, and diverse commercial markets.
- Strong understanding of fabrication, costing structures, MOQs, and production timelines.
- Comfort using data to drive commercial decisions, forecast demand, and optimise stock flow.
- Owning inventory performance, balancing availability, working capital, stock turn, and markdown risk.
- Experience operating within a multi-million-pound inventory or purchasing budget environment.
Skills:
- Critical path management
- Stock flow & forecasting
What success might look like within the first 12 months:
- Improved gross margin performance.
- Strengthened supplier partnerships and terms.
- Enhanced forecasting accuracy.
- Reduced stock risk and improved stock turn.
- Increased on-time delivery performance.
- Creation of scalable buying processes to support growth.
So, what’s in it for you? You’ll have an opportunity to grow with the company, be a part of the journey, and have a vital input into helping continue the crazy growth we’ve already seen. You’ll play a vital role in shaping DFYNE’s commercial success. You’ll be part of a high challenge; high reward culture.
What will aid a successful application with DFYNE:
- Additional pay
- Company events
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Unlimited paid holidays
- Free on-site gym
Ability to commute/relocate: Uddingston, G71 5PG: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent Starting from £70,000 annually.
Equality and diversity monitoring DFYNE wants to meet the aims and commitments set out in our equality policy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010.
Buying & Merchandising Director in Uddingston employer: Factorial
Lab54 is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and dynamic work culture, perfect for those passionate about finance in the events industry. With opportunities for professional growth and a flexible remote working arrangement after three months, employees enjoy a supportive environment that values their contributions and encourages skill development. Located in London, Lab54 offers a unique chance to be part of an innovative team dedicated to delivering exceptional events.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying & Merchandising Director in Uddingston
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Factorial, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Factorial!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying & Merchandising Director in Uddingston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Factorial, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Factorial and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Factorial that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Factorial
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
