At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy, manage margins, and drive profitable growth for a leading gifting brand.
- Company: Join My 1st Years, a top personalised baby and children's gifting brand in the UK.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in a high-growth environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a beloved brand while ensuring its financial success.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in buying and merchandising with a focus on margin control.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Location: Northampton (Hybrid – minimum 3 days per week onsite)
Reports to: CEO (Founder)
Department Size: 10–15 people across Buying, Merchandising, Product Design & Supply Chain
About the Business
My 1st Years is a leading UK-based personalised baby and children’s gifting brand within MY Gift Group, alongside sister brands Made Yours and MY Kids. The next phase of growth will be driven by margin discipline, stock control and scalable product differentiation - not simply increased marketing spend.
Role Purpose
This role exists to ensure that what we sell generates structurally profitable growth. The Commercial Director owns the end-to-end economic performance of the physical product portfolio, including:
- Buying
- Merchandising
- Product design
- Sourcing & supply chain
- Pricing & margin governance
This role is the margin controller of the business.
Core Accountability
The Commercial Director owns:
- Gross margin (SKU, category and total business)
- Bought-in and traded margins
- Product rate of sale
- Stock turns and ageing
- Markdown exposure
- Intake discipline
- Working capital tied up in stock
- Revenue and margin performance within Selfridges and Harrods
You are responsible for ensuring margin erosion is intentional - never accidental. Promotions and discounting are joint decisions with the Marketing Director, but cannot be executed without Commercial approval. Marketing drives demand; Commercial protects margin integrity.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Strategy & Portfolio Control
- Define and simplify range architecture
- Control SKU count and complexity
- Identify hero SKUs and profit drivers
- Lead lifecycle management and rationalisation
- Embed personalisation as a scalable margin-enhancing capability
- Product Design & Economic Gatekeeping
- Own end-to-end physical product development
- Oversee materials and manufacturability - get involved with product design commercially (CADs, tech packs if need be)
- Translate margin targets into design briefs to ensure option count is efficient
- Refuse approval for products that do not meet economic thresholds
- Global Sourcing & Cost Engineering
- Lead supplier strategy (China essential)
- Negotiate cost structures and MOQs
- Drive cost engineering as volume scales
- Protect margin against FX, freight and material volatility
- Merchandising, Forecasting & Stock Discipline
- Own demand forecasting and intake planning
- Improve rate of sale by product
- Drive stock turn improvement
- Reduce ageing and forced markdown exposure
- Model landed cost accurately
- Pricing Architecture, Promotions & Margin Governance
- Set category margin targets
- Define pricing ladders (good/better/best)
- Control when discounting is permitted
- Define maximum discount depth
- Separate stock-led vs demand-led markdown logic
- Approve promotional mechanics from a margin perspective
- Physical Retail Ownership (Selfridges & Harrods)
- Own revenue, margin and stock performance in physical retail
- Ensure wholesale pricing supports target margin
- Monitor sell-through and partner performance
- Protect brand and pricing consistency across channels
- SLT & Board Leadership
- Act as margin authority at SLT
- Present SKU-level economics and stock exposure
- Ensure the product engine is exit-ready and buyer credible
Experience Required
Essential
- Senior leadership experience across buying and merchandising
- Demonstrable margin ownership and markdown control
- Strong overseas manufacturing exposure (China essential)
- Proven stock turn and gross margin improvement delivery
Desirable
- Personalised or configurable products
- DTC or omnichannel retail
- Founder-led or high-growth environments
Why This Role Matters
This role determines:
- What the business sells
- How profitable growth truly is
- Whether stock becomes risk or strength
- How credible the business appears to buyers
This is one of the three P&L-critical leadership pillars of the Group.
Location: Northampton (Hybrid – minimum 3 days per week onsite)
Commercial Director in Northampton employer: My 1st Years
My 1st Years is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Northampton that fosters creativity and innovation within the personalised gifting sector. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members benefit from a collaborative culture that values margin discipline and strategic thinking, while enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid working model. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering structurally profitable growth and making a meaningful impact in the lives of families.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Director in Northampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and engage on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their products, values, and market position. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely excited about what they do!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate how your experience aligns with the role of Commercial Director. We need to highlight our margin control expertise and product strategy skills to make a lasting impression.
✨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 about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Director in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Director role. Highlight your experience in buying, merchandising, and margin control, as these are key areas for us. Show how your skills align with our goals at My 1st Years!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your impact! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you've improved gross margins or stock turns in previous roles. This will help us understand your potential contribution to our team.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what matters most. Make it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit for the Commercial Director position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at My 1st Years
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Commercial Director, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of margin control and stock management. Brush up on key metrics like gross margin, stock turns, and markdown exposure. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed these in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
This role is all about driving profitable growth through strategic decisions. Prepare examples of how you've defined product strategies or simplified range architectures in the past. Highlight your ability to identify hero SKUs and profit drivers.
✨Understand the Supply Chain
With global sourcing being crucial, make sure you can speak confidently about your experience with overseas manufacturing, especially in China. Discuss any cost negotiations or supplier strategies you've implemented that have positively impacted margins.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a senior leader, you'll be expected to guide a team and present to the board. Prepare to share your leadership style and how you've led teams to achieve margin improvement and stock discipline. Think about how you can convey your vision for the role and inspire confidence.
