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About Loaf
At Loaf we make insanely comfy sofas, beds and homewares that help people lead more comfortable lives. Founded in 2008, Loaf has steadily grown each year to become one of the leading premium furniture and homeware brands in the UK. We now have 11 Shacks (stores to everyone else!), with more on the way. It's an exciting time to join an ambitious business.
The Role
The Junior Buyer is responsible for supporting the Category Lead to develop and deliver commercially successful, on brand product ranges that support Loaf’s overall product strategy and growth objectives.
The role will manage key product areas on behalf of the Category Lead, delivering the end-to-end buying cycle from concept through to launch. It combines creative product development with strong commercial ability, ensuring margin targets, quality standards and launch deadlines are consistently achieved.
You will be working cross-functionally with Demand Planning, Supplier Management, Product Tech and Marketing while building effective supplier partnerships to deliver exceptional products that resonate with our customers.
Responsibilities
- Support the Category Lead in delivering the overall range strategy and product roadmap.
- With the close guidance of the Category Lead, take responsibility for managing the end-to-end delivery of the product in specific categories.
- Deliver the range plans, ensuring clear price architecture as set by the Category Lead and that margins are delivered as per budgets agreed by the business.
- Follow the critical path to develop an understanding of delivering a product from concept to launch, checking in against the established brand positioning and customer expectations.
- Prepare analysis to support the Category Lead to negotiate cost prices, MOQ’s, and lead times to achieve agreed margin targets.
- Build good supplier relationships for the department ensuring we are operating in an open and collaborative way and suppliers are delivering to agreed service levels.
- Manage and maintain the critical path to ensure product launches are delivered on time.
- Work closely with Demand Planning to review forecasts, intake planning, and stock performance.
- Analyse sales performance, customer feedback, and competitor activity to inform trading decisions and future development.
- Identify risks and opportunities and propose appropriate commercial actions.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Web teams to ensure accurate product information and strong launch execution.
- Attend sealing sessions and range reviews, ensuring product quality and consistency.
- Provide guidance and support to the department BA where appropriate.
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Requirements
We're looking for:
- 2-5 years previous experience in a BA, AB, or Junior Buyer role within a retail environment.
- Experience in product development to a critical path.
- Using systems to download and analyse data in order to inform commercial decisions in the category.
- Understanding of sales and margin targets and how to influence delivering against them.
- An understanding of product development cycles and critical paths from concept through to launch.
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Knowledge & Skills:
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to interpret data and propose timely decisions.
- Highly organised, able to prioritise and manage multiple workstreams.
- Clear and proactive communicator, comfortable working cross-functionally and with external suppliers.
- Proficient in MS Office and Google Suite.
Attributes and Behaviours:
- Passionate about product and customer experience.
- Commercially minded and outcome focused.
- Accountable and dependable, following through on commitments.
- Collaborative team player who builds positive working relationships.
- Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment.
Benefits
Some of our benefits:
- 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 day each year for 3 years, plus 8 days for bank holidays.
- Enhanced family leave policy.
- Staff and friends and family discount scheme.
- Healthcare cash plan.
- EAP programme.
- Shopping discounts.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Half a day for Christmas shopping.
- Life Assurance - 4 times annual salary.
Working at Loaf
We are a forward-thinking, friendly bunch committed to building a fabulous company with brilliant people. The customer is at the heart of everything we do and we're always striving for better, more efficient ways to deliver to the highest standard.
As a business, we're working really hard to be inclusive. No matter what identity or background, we want everyone to feel welcome in a place where we can all be ourselves.
We'd love you to join us on our journey.
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