At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development from concept to launch in fitness and wellness sectors.
- Company: Join Fitness Superstore, a top UK fitness equipment specialist.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, generous staff discount, and 21 days leave.
- Why this job: Shape the future of fitness products and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong strategic thinking skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a thriving market.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Northampton Head Office
Product Sectors: Core: Fitness Equipment, with diversification into Wellness, Recovery & leisure products.
The Opportunity
Fitness Superstore is one of the UK’s leading fitness equipment specialists, operating a nationwide retail store network, multiple high-performing e-commerce websites, and a growing B2B commercial division. Our range spans cardio, strength, functional training, home fitness, commercial gym equipment and accessories — supported by a strong proprietary OEM portfolio and long-standing partnerships with globally recognised brands.
As the business continues to expand, including into new wellness, recovery and leisure categories, we are seeking a Product Development Manager to play a central role in shaping and evolving our future product range. This is a high-impact role for a commercially driven product leader who can identify market opportunity, translate customer insight into compelling products, and manage delivery from concept through to launch.
You will sit at the heart of the business, influencing what we sell, how we differentiate, and how we continue to lead in a competitive UK marketplace.
The Role
As Product Development Manager, you will own the end-to-end product development lifecycle across Fitness Superstore’s retail, digital and B2B channels. Working closely with buying, marketing, digital and sales teams, you will manage existing OEM pipelines while actively identifying opportunities to expand, improve and diversify our ranges, including diversification in growth areas such as wellness, recovery and leisure products.
This includes developing products across categories such as:
- Cardio and strength equipment (home and commercial)
- Functional training and accessories
- Wellness and recovery
- Leisure and lifestyle products complementary to fitness.
You will be responsible for turning insight into action — shaping product strategy, defining specifications, managing supplier product selections, and ensuring successful product launches that deliver real commercial value to the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Market & Customer Insight
Conduct in-depth research into customer needs, behaviours and pain points across home fitness, commercial gyms, wellness and leisure markets. Identify category gaps, emerging trends and growth opportunities, with additional focus on expanding into new categories such as wellness, recovery and lifestyle-led fitness products. Track competitor activity and international product innovation to inform future range strategy.
- Product Ideation & Development
Generate, assess and refine new product concepts aligned to brand positioning and customer demand. Develop clear product briefs, specifications and commercial cases. Manage existing PD pipeline and new OEM development projects from concept to production readiness.
- Sourcing & Supplier Management
Work closely with buying department and retail management to develop existing supplier relationships and new products. Identify new sourcing opportunities and manufacturing partners to support category expansion. Ensure product quality, performance, compliance and cost targets are achieved.
- Cross-Functional Leadership
Act as the central link between buying, marketing, digital, operations and sales teams. Ensure new products are launched on time, to specification, and fully supported across all channels. Oversee product testing, compliance, certification and safety requirements. A source of product knowledge for the sales teams, especially with regards to OEM where initial product launch training may be needed.
About You
You are a commercially minded product professional with a strong instinct for what customers want next. You enjoy working at both strategic and hands-on levels — equally comfortable shaping long-term product direction and managing the detail required to deliver results. You are curious, data-driven and confident working cross-functionally to bring products to market that genuinely stand out.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in product development, product management or sourcing (consumer or commercial products)
- Strong strategic thinking and product planning capability
- Excellent understanding of customer needs supported by market and data analysis
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance innovation, margin and scalability
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making and communication skills
- Technical understanding of physical products (fitness, mechanical, engineered or consumer durables desirable)
- Experience in the fitness equipment sector an advantage but not essential.
We can offer you:
- £50K Salary
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Pension
- Generous staff discount (following probation)
- 21 days annual leave + statutory bank holidays
- Free on-site parking
- Personal use of in-store equipment after hours
Why Join Fitness Superstore?
- Play a key role in shaping the future product portfolio of a market-leading UK fitness retailer
- Work across a diverse mix of proprietary OEM products and global brands
- Influence real product decisions with visible commercial impact
- Be at the forefront of growth into wellness, recovery and leisure categories
If you are driven by innovation, motivated by customer impact, and excited by the challenge of sourcing and developing products that differentiate in a competitive UK market, we’d love to hear from you.
Product Development Manager in Northampton employer: Fitness Superstore
Contact Detail:
Fitness Superstore Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Manager in Northampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the fitness industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for product development! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your ideas about the latest trends in fitness equipment and wellness products. This will demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm, making you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s product range and recent innovations. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth in wellness and recovery categories. Tailoring your conversation to their needs shows you’re serious about the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand. So, hit that apply button and let’s get the conversation started!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Manager in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Product Development Manager role. Highlight any relevant product development or management experience, especially in fitness or consumer products.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've identified market opportunities or developed successful products in the past.
Showcase Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for fitness and product innovation shine through in your application. We want to see your genuine interest in shaping the future of our product range!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quicker!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fitness Superstore
✨Know Your Products Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Fitness Superstore's product range, especially in fitness equipment and emerging wellness categories. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach product development and what trends you see shaping the market.
✨Showcase Your Market Insight
Bring examples of your previous work where you've identified market gaps or customer needs. Discuss how you translated those insights into successful products. This will demonstrate your ability to think strategically and act on data-driven decisions.
✨Cross-Functional Collaboration is Key
Highlight your experience working with different teams like marketing, sales, and operations. Share specific instances where your collaboration led to successful product launches, showing that you can be the central link in a cross-functional environment.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Prepare for questions that test your problem-solving skills. Think of challenges you've faced in product development and how you overcame them. This will showcase your decision-making abilities and your capacity to handle the complexities of product management.