At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the buying function and shape product ranges for a stylish home interiors brand.
- Company: Join Melody Maison, a fast-moving brand known for distinctive furniture and home accessories.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, profit-share bonus, and flexible working hours.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product development and customer satisfaction in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven buying experience in homewares and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Doncaster — office-based
Salary: £45,000–£50,000 DOE
Bonus: Profit-share bonus & yearly Christmas Bonus
Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday
We are happy to discuss working hours for the right candidate.
Join Melody Maison and Help Shape What Our Customers Buy Next
Melody Maison is a fast-moving home interiors brand known for stylish, distinctive furniture, mirrors and home accessories. We are looking for an experienced, commercially driven Buying Manager to lead our buying function and shape the future of our product ranges. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who understands that a successful range must do more than look beautiful. It must excite customers, deliver strong margins, arrive on time and sell at the right rate.
You will take ownership of the full buying journey, from product ideas and supplier sourcing through to forecasting, production, quality control, launch and stock performance. You will also lead and develop a buying team of three to four colleagues, including Buyers, Assistant Buyers and a Supply Chain Assistant.
The Role
As Buying Manager, you will be responsible for building balanced, commercially successful ranges that reflect the Melody Maison brand and support our sales, margin and growth objectives. You will combine creative product judgement with strong commercial thinking, using customer insight, market trends, performance data and supplier knowledge to make confident buying decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Range Planning and Product Strategy
- Build commercially balanced ranges across categories, styles, colours, sizes and price points.
- Define the right mix of core, seasonal, repeat and test products.
- Decide which products should be developed, repeated, improved or discontinued.
- Ensure ranges support seasonal campaigns, lookbooks and launch plans.
- Team Leadership
- Lead, coach and performance-manage a buying team of three to four people.
- Set objectives and review performance.
- Develop the team’s commercial judgement, negotiation skills and product knowledge.
- Create clear accountability and ownership.
- Maintain accurate buying administration and critical-path deadlines.
- Make final decisions on significant purchases and supplier selection.
- Sourcing and Supplier Management
- Develop supplier strategies across the Far East.
- Source new products and suppliers.
- Negotiate prices, MOQs, lead times, payment terms and exclusivity.
- Build strong, long-term supplier relationships.
- Review supplier performance and rationalise the supplier base where required.
- Manage cost, freight, currency and supply-chain risks.
- Product Development and Quality
- Oversee the full product-development process, from concept and sampling through to costing, compliance, quality approval and production sign-off.
- Work with suppliers and Quality Control teams to resolve issues and use customer feedback, returns and defect data to improve product and packaging quality.
- Forecasting and Stock Planning
- Forecast demand by product, category and season.
- Set initial order quantities and replenishment plans.
- Review sales performance and update forecasts.
- Align stock intake with campaigns, launches, warehouse capacity and cash flow.
- Balance product availability against the risk of overstock.
- Budget and Margin Management
- Manage the buying budget and open-to-buy position.
- Control cost prices and full landed costs.
- Protect and improve margins.
- Monitor stock commitments and identify commercial risks early.
- Ensure buying decisions are financially controlled and evidence-based.
- Stock Performance
- Monitor sales, sell-through, stock cover, margin, stock turn, returns and aged stock.
- Take early action on overstock, stockouts and underperforming products.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for an experienced buying professional who can demonstrate:
- Strong buying experience within furniture, homewares, interiors or a related product-led sector.
- Experience leading and developing a buying team.
- Strong range-planning, supplier-negotiation and international-sourcing skills.
- Commercial knowledge of margins, landed costs, MOQs and open-to-buy.
- Proven forecasting, stock-management and data-analysis ability.
- Experience managing products from concept through to launch, including quality and compliance.
- Strong organisation, communication and cross-functional working skills.
- A genuine interest in home interiors and customer-focused product development.
You should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where priorities can change and ideas must be turned into commercial action.
Purchasing,Stock Control and Supply Chain Co-Ordinator in Doncaster employer: Melody Maison
At Melody Maison, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and supportive work culture in the heart of Doncaster. Our team enjoys competitive salaries, profit-share bonuses, and opportunities for professional growth within a fast-paced environment that values creativity and innovation in home interiors. Join us to lead a passionate buying team and make a tangible impact on our product offerings while enjoying a collaborative atmosphere that encourages personal development and success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Purchasing,Stock Control and Supply Chain Co-Ordinator in Doncaster
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Melody Maison.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Purchasing,Stock Control and Supply Chain Co-Ordinator in Doncaster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Melody Maison:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Melody Maison. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Melody Maison.
How to prepare for a job interview at Melody Maison
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Melody Maison!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Melody Maison. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Melody Maison's culture.
