Buyer/Product Manager

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Job Title: Buyer/ Product Manager (Casualwear, Denim, Suede & Leather)

Reporting to: Production Director

Location: White City Place, London

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 per week

Workplace Type: On Site

About us

ME+EM is one of the UK's fastest-growing luxury fashion brands. In addition to a thriving global digital presence, we operate flagship stores in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, concessions within Harrods and Selfridges, and have recently expanded with new store openings in the U.S.

At ME+EM we are an entrepreneurial, creative, and passionate group of people. We work hard, are enthusiastic to learn and are not afraid to take risks. Everyone contributes to our success at all levels, and that precisely what makes being a member of the team so rewarding.

Our office and stores are always busy and fast paced, but we work just as hard to make sure it's fun, with social activities and biannual parties. We pride ourselves on being approachable, supportive, and welcoming and ensure that everyone's hard work is rewarded. It takes all these things to build a strong, successful business and our door is always open to new talent ready to contribute to our growth and evolution.

Responsibilities

Critical Path Management

• Manage the business calendar, ensuring proto's and costs are ready for selection and subsequent meetings (Proto, Intake, Fit, Pre Prod, Shoot).

• Manage the team to ensure critical dates are achievable, realistic and all information is accurate on the tracking sheets to be able to make informed decisions.

• Manage the priorities and team workload to ensure that styles can achieve 'into production' deadlines and all fabric/ yarn/ trims are booked and actioned in line with the suppliers critical path.

• Managing the Garment Tech workload to ensure fit comments and CP deadlines are met.

Managing the Supply Base

• Placing the ME+EM product with the appropriate supplier. Reviewing capacities in line with planned orders, ensuring production is equally distributed to maintain quality and delivery performance, managing any blockages or risks within the supply chain.

• Managing supplier relationships, addressing any issues or concerns and resolve any disputes in a timely manner.

• Regularly visit the Supply base.

Product

• Working closely with Design to ensure the collection contains the Brand DNA, Fashion lego, considered end use, balance of styles, colour & retail prices. Highlighting any option discrepancies, gaps, risks, or new opportunities to ensure a commercial and well balance range is built.

• Work closely with Merchandising for trade reactions, trade concerns, being aware of sales, 'best & worst' information, input in units and sizing ratios using the knowledge for future decision making.

• Manage the fit session ensuring the appropriate samples are being fitted & approved in accordance with the brand DNA, critical path, cost and quality. Always considering - flattering, function, forever

• Liaising with the Garment Tech to ensure garments are fit for production, analysing risk, highlighting problems, and supporting them to reduce returns and write offs.

• Management of fabric/ yarn/ trim issues in a factory to ensure the delivered product is to ME+EM standards

• Management of quality rejects, driving the team to ensure rejected garments are processed, rejected or released as quickly and cost effective as possible to minimise lost sales.

Margin

• Work with the Designer to ensure design, fabric & trim costs are workable to the target margins.

• Present cost price/ margin in the Product meetings (proto & range build), with recommendations for any styles under the target margin

• Have an understanding of product make and costing, engineering cost prices, working with Design & the Supplier without compromising the design integrity and/ or quality.

• Responsible for the negotiation of cost prices with suppliers.

• Work with Design & Merchandising to ensure the Retail Price architecture is achieved, including entry price points for each category.

• Takes responsibility for the management of late deliveries and substandard quality issues, negotiating cost price reductions or payment of freight costs when relevant, protecting the margin wherever possible.

• Ensure excess fabrics are utilised quickly and in the most cost effective manner.

• Liaison with accounts on any supplier payment issues; authorising invoices, credit, debits etc

Customer and Brand Focus

• Attend Customer feedback meetings

• Seasonal store visits - with Design & Technical to ensure brand KPI's are consistently achieved

• Seasonal Competitive shop - ensuring knowledge on competitor activity is up to date

• Attend the Pre Production meeting to ensure management of shoot preparation, working closely with Design Director to ensure initial design concept is coming through on shoots

• Liaise with marketing to ensure 'Intelligent Style' and Product information is consistent across the departments. Reviewing:

Copy

Product names

Book & imagery checks

Management

• Responsible for the recruitment & induction of new team members, providing structured training, coaching, feedback and reviews

• Provide clear communication, direction, roles & responsibilities

• Responsible for the development and performance management of the team.

• Supports peers within the business

• Highlights key area's of concern to the Production Director.

Please note this list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

ME+EM is an equal opportunities employer committed to fostering and preserving a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusion in our workforce. As an equal opportunities' employer, we do not discriminate against applicants based on race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe that diversity enriches our workforce and strengthens our organisation. Therefore, we encourage minorities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and individuals with disabilities to apply for opportunities within our company.

Please email [email protected] should you require any adjustments needed to take part in this recruitment process.

Please note, due to the large number of applications we receive, we can only reply to those that are successful to the next stage.