Dunelm
Senior Buyer-Furniture
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Senior Buyer-Furniture
Category Manager / Buyer – Homewares
About Dunelm
There’s no place like it. And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We’re the UK’s Number One homewares retailer, offering over 100,000 products. We build a consumer-focused total retail business that delights customers through our multichannel operation.
Our vision is to make home life lovelier for our customers while fostering a caring and encouraging culture that makes this a place you’ll feel right at home too.
We are committed to expanding our business, serving more customers, increasing frequency of shopping, offering greater choice, and enhancing digital and physical services. By investing in our supply chain, stores, and technology, we aim to improve the customer proposition while operating at pace in a fast-changing landscape.
The Commercial Team
The Commercial team is responsible for:
- Sourcing, developing, and selling products that deliver fantastic value for money while ensuring great quality, innovation, and sustainability.
- Trading ranges to optimise sales and profit.
- Building strong supplier relationships.
You will join a talented team comprising Buyers, Merchandisers, and Designers in a fast-paced, energetic, positive, and data-driven environment where calculated risks are essential for growth.
Our goal is to drive sales and profit for Dunelm by sourcing the best quality products at the best prices from ethically and sustainably-minded suppliers. This role will require ownership of the trading strategy for a dedicated product department.
Work Environment
We are a hybrid business, offering flexibility—you can expect 2–3 days a week in the office or at on-site locations. This balance ensures you stay connected, collaborative, and productive to deliver the best results for our customers.
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What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll lead with heart, purpose, and strategy in this role:
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Team Leadership & Growth
- Guide and upskill a talented team, nurturing future leaders and building a strong successor plan.
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Strategic Thinking & Execution
- Develop and deliver both short- and long-term category strategies that keep Dunelm at the forefront of customer excitement.
- Identify and capitalise on trends by using data, market research, and intuition.
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Championing Innovation
- Collaborate with stakeholders to bring fresh and bold ideas to life.
- Challenge the norm and make product ranges stand out in the market.
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Product Development & Range Oversight
- Oversee option planning, product mix, and price architecture with the customer always at the forefront.
- Ensure new product launches and promotions provide value-driven excitement across all departments.
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Supplier Relationships & Global Partnerships
- Develop and nurture long-term partnerships within the supply chain.
- Foster new global relationships with factories that meet high technical and ethical standards.
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Pricing & Negotiation
- Lead negotiations to maximise profit and efficiency when tendering new ranges.
- Improve commercial terms with existing suppliers while ensuring alignment with business objectives.
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Financial Responsibility
- Manage budgets and PLC [Profit and Loss] margin planning.
- Recommend trading actions to improve performance and profitability.
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Product Launch & Promotion Sign-Off
- Approve promotional calendars and product launches that deliver great value and excitement.
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Cross-Departmental Collaboration
- Work closely with marketing, digital, and stores teams, ensuring our strategies shine across the entire customer experience.
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- Quality Assurance & Ethical Commitment
- Partner with the Quality team to ensure products meet specifications.
- Resolve issues swiftly and improve ethical and sustainable practices within the supply base.
Requirements
We are looking for a sharp candidate with a passionate drive for homewares, product acumen, and a strong commercial mindset.
What Makes You a Great Fit?
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Proven Buying Experience
- Solid history in buying and product range development.
- Ability to make commercially sound sourcing and purchasing decisions.
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Passion for Home
- Genuine enthusiasm for beautiful, functional products that enhance people’s living spaces.
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Creative Flair
- Great eye for aesthetics and an affinity for working with designers, technologists, and suppliers to innovate.
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Growth Mindset
- Entrepreneurial attitude with accountability.
- Constant improvement drive for the business and personal growth.
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Attention to Detail
- Ability to notice nuances that significantly impact customer satisfaction and commercial success.
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Strong Communication
- Clear, confident, and collaborative communication style.
- Skilled in influencing senior stakeholders while fostering strong professional relationships.
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Action-Oriented
- Capable of setting direction, securing buy-in, and delivering results quickly and efficiently.
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Team-Oriented
- Passion for collaborative teamwork and leadership.
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Confident Negotiator
- Proven track record in managing complex negotiations and achieving favourable outcomes.
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Organisational Skills
- Expertise in juggling multiple projects while prioritising effectively.
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Curiosity & Approachability
- No fear of questioning, experimenting, or learning.
- Willingness to lend support and give/receive feedback openly.
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