Retail buyer

Baby City Limited; Wellington; On-site; NZD 40,116,000 - 48,712,000; Part time

Job summary

babycity is seeking a part-time Retail Buyer to strengthen NZ brand partnerships and grow ORIGIN. You’ll manage ranges, review sales and margins, develop briefs, and coordinate with suppliers. This hands-on role spans product, people and performance with a focus on timely launches and strong value for Kiwi families.

You’ll collaborate across our stores and Support Office, shaping customer-led assortments and ensuring quality and compliance while driving commercial results for babycity and ORIGIN.

Qualifications

• Experience in retail buying, category management, merchandising or brand management.
• Strong commercial focus across sales, margin, stock or inventory decisions.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier relationship skills.
• Customer-focused mindset and curiosity about parent needs.
• Proficient in Excel or Google Sheets; familiarity with ERP or inventory systems.
• Strong organisational and deadline management.
• Ability to adapt quickly and collaborate across teams.
• Willingness to work in Wellington and support ORIGIN projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver customer-led product plans using sales, margin, stock and trend insights.
• Discover and champion New Zealand brands that strengthen babycity range.
• Help shape ORIGIN products from brief through to costings, samples and launch.
• Collaborate with in-house teams and offshore partners to keep development on track.
• Negotiate pricing, quantities, lead times and terms with suppliers.
• Monitor range and inventory performance and adjust pricing and promotions.
• Work with marketing, e-commerce, retail, operations and finance to give products a clear path to market.
• Support product quality, safety and compliance processes with proper supplier evidence.

Skills

Retail buying

Category management

Merchandising

Negotiation

Supplier relations

Data interpretation

Excel

ERP systems

Google Sheets

Tools

ERP systems

Google Sheets

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

We’re all about family

As the leading New Zealand nursery retailer for parents and caregivers of babies and young children, at babycity®, we value the importance of offering only the best advice, products and brands that work for all families and their lifestyle. It’s all about promising them peace of mind, knowing their journey begins with us - instore or online.

Our babycity® culture is centred around empathy, support, friendliness, personal approach and knowledge for all. Everyone who works at babycity® is central to our success. We work hard to create this special culture where colleagues feel valued, respected, enjoy their work, understand that they make a real difference each day, while also having some fun along the way.

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Retail buyer, local brands & ORIGIN

Location: Wellington support office
Contractor | part-time 20-30hrs | intermediate level and above

Do you love discovering a brilliant product, making the numbers work and seeing a range land beautifully in stores and online? This epic buying role could be your opportunity to influence, create and GROW with babycity®!

We’re looking for a commercially sharp, trend-aware Retail buyer to strengthen our New Zealand brand partnerships and help develop ORIGIN, our own brand designed for modern Kiwi parents.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who can move confidently between product, people and performance and seek approval from the stakeholders. One moment you’ll be reviewing sales, margin and stock, and the next you’ll be developing a product brief, assessing samples or working through costs and timelines with suppliers. No two days will be the same, we can guarantee you that, but as long as you see and understand the vision - easy!

In a nutshell:

• develop and deliver customer-led product plans using sales, margin, stock, competitor and trend insights;
• discover and champion New Zealand brands that strengthen the babycity® range and our local story;
• help shape ORIGIN products from the initial opportunity and brief through to costings, samples, packaging, production and launch;
• collaborate with our in-house team and offshore partners to keep development on track for quality, timing and cost;
• negotiate confidently with suppliers across pricing, margin, quantities, lead times, payment terms, marketing support and other commercial agreements;
• monitor range and inventory performance, then act decisively on pricing, promotions, replenishment and clearance;
• work closely with marketing, e‑commerce, retail, operations and finance to give every product a clear purpose and strong path to market;
• support product quality, safety and compliance processes, ensuring the right supplier evidence and records are maintained; and
• stay curious about parenting, lifestyle, design and retail trends in New Zealand and around the world.

What we’re looking for…

Someone with a STRONG desire to build brilliant ranges, deliver commercial results, understand and interpret the data and contribute positively to a fast-moving, supportive team environment.

You might already be an established Buyer, or you could be an ambitious Assistant Buyer ready to take the next step. Ideally, you’ll bring:

• relevant experience in retail buying, category management, merchandising, wholesale, product development or brand management;
• commercial confidence across sales, margin, pricing, stock turn, sell‑through and inventory decisions;
• strong negotiation and supplier relationship skills, with the judgement to be both warm and clear;
• a customer‑first instinct and genuine curiosity about what parents need, not only what’s trending;
• confidence using Excel or Google Sheets, plus buying, merchandising, ERP or inventory systems;
• excellent organisation and follow‑through across multiple products, suppliers and deadlines;
• the ability to use initiative, adapt quickly and keep moving when priorities change;
• strong communication skills and enthusiasm for building effective relationships across our stores, Support Office and supplier network; and
• a collaborative, low‑ego approach that respects the ideas and contributions of others.

You’ll have a definite advantage if you have…

• private-label product development, offshore sourcing or importing experience;
• experience in baby, nursery, apparel, lifestyle or another design‑led category;
• a strong visual eye and passion for thoughtful product design; or
• experience with product safety, quality assurance, testing, labelling or ethical sourcing.

Working at babycity®, you’ll have a great and supportive team alongside you, plus…

the opportunity to directly influence our ranges and help grow ORIGIN;

meaningful relationships with emerging and established New Zealand brands;

exposure to every stage of the product journey, from opportunity through to launch;

collaboration across retail, e‑commerce, marketing, operations and finance;

the freedom to bring forward ideas and make a genuine commercial impact; and

a proudly New Zealand‑owned business that cares deeply about helping families buy with confidence.

You’ll be learning and developing every day across different parts of the business, with room to shape products, grow supplier partnerships and contribute to the next chapter of babycity® and ORIGIN.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand at the time of applying.