At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global buying strategy and build strong supplier partnerships for commercial success.
- Company: Join DFYNE, a fast-growing brand with a vibrant culture and innovative spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy unlimited holidays, flexitime, free gym access, and a bonus scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a high challenge, high reward culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a dynamic company while driving growth and innovation.
- Qualifications: Senior buying leadership experience in high-growth brands, preferably in fitness or lifestyle.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: DFYNE HQ, 1 Forrest Gate, Uddingston, G71 5PG
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.
Attitude:
- Builder energy
- Customer obsessed mindset
- Grounded confidence
- Commercial creativity
- Calm command
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:
- Commercial strategy
- Negotiation & supplier management
- Costing & margin optimisation
- Critical path management
- Data-driven decision making
- 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?
If you’ve made it this far down without being put off, brilliant. I’d love to hear from you. Besides a work family and a great place to work, 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:
- Cover letter
- Completed questionnaire
Additional pay:
Bonus scheme
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Employee discount
- 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
Salary: Starting from £70,000 annually.
Buying & Merchandising Director employer: OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE
At DFYNE, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and supportive work culture where every team member's voice is valued. As an IT Administrator, you'll not only take ownership of critical IT operations but also enjoy unique benefits like unlimited paid holidays, flexitime, and a free on-site gym, all while being part of a rapidly growing company that prioritises employee growth and development. Join us in Uddingston, where your contributions will directly impact our success and innovation.
Contact Details:
OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying & Merchandising Director
✨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 OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE, 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 OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying & Merchandising Director
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 OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE, 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 OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE 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 OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at OLR Holdings trading as DFYNE
✨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!
