Retail Buyer in Wareham

The Museum shop stocks a vast array of gifts and military memorabilia for our onsite & online audience. These sales generate considerable profit which services other areas of the museum, and online sales have grown considerably to form a substantial part of the business, taking more money than our onsite shop. The Tank Museum Online Shop has become a well‑known, popular, and strong brand in the heritage sector and is going from strength to strength.

We are seeking a commercially focused Retail Buyer with strong product development experience to curate and develop compelling retail ranges that reflect our exhibition programme and brand. Working with the Senior Buyer, the Retail Buyer will research, source and develop product ranges across all categories that will resonate with visitors and align with the museum’s identity. Please note - the Retail Buyer is a customer focussed, creative, and commercially driven position rather than a procurement-based role.

• Buying and Merchandising

Contribute to the Museum’s forward plan by introducing innovative new products and ensuring strong margins across the range. Research market trends and consumer preferences to identify potential products for purchase, to include the development of bespoke products, while considering historic accuracies of our exhibitions. Manage your product categories from start to finish, including orders and reorders, tracking delivery dates, setting up on the online shop, managing launch dates with Marketing and the wider team, reporting on sell throughs and planning any exit strategies. Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers to negotiate favourable terms and pricing. Analyse sales data using phasing and forecasts to determine optimal inventory levels, working to 8‑week sales to stock level where possible, minimising excessive inventory. Conduct regular performance reviews of products and suppliers to ensure alignment with company objectives and profitability targets. Attend trade shows, conferences, and supplier meetings to stay informed about new products and industry best practices. Manage and maintain the Critical Path for all product development and buying activities. Curate product ranges for event days and school holidays. Work closely with the Retail and Visitor services Manager and the onsite team to plan visually appealing product displays and merchandising, both in the shop and for event days. Ensure all stock purchasing follows financial procedures, with accurate recording of all transactions. Collaborate with the Marketing team to oversee product lines on our online shop, ensuring information is correct and a good level of inventory is maintained.

• Plan and communicate buying and delivery logistics with the onsite team.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to plan promotional activities and campaigns to increase sales.
• Support the onsite team with customer emails and other administration when required.
• Communicate effectively with wider museum departments, including finance, events, archive, and research to coordinate products and resolve issues.
• Ensure compliance with museum policies, procedures, and ethical standards in all purchasing activities.

A degree or relevant retail management/product/merchandising qualification is desirable. Experience in the following is essential: Experience developing own‑brand or bespoke product. Understanding of margin, mark‑up and sell‑through. Strong negotiation and supplier‑relationship‑management experience. Experience working with designers, makers or creative suppliers. Strong aesthetic and brand sensitivity. Experience in the following is desirable: EPOS implementations. Using a Purchase order system. Experience with Shopify or other online retail platforms. Buying from the far east. Experience in cultural, heritage, or visitor‑attraction retail. Strong commercial and financial acumen is required, along with knowledge of stock budgets.

The successful candidate will need to be on‑site for the majority of the week, with potential to work from home one day per week.

Advert close date 8th March 2026. Screening interviews to be held 13th March 2026 and In‑person interviews (if successful) will be held on 18th March 2026.