Senior Product Developer/Buyer

DM Merchandising; Elmhurst (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

DM Merchandising is seeking a Product Developer/Buyer to manage multiple brands from concept to completion for retailers worldwide. You will develop new brands, select products, styles, and work with art and copy teams to bring packaging and merchandising to life.

You will leverage gift industry knowledge, trends, and consumer habits to drive market-ready products, negotiate with overseas vendors, and coordinate with vendors and upper management to deliver on-time, on-budget assortments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years product buying and/or product development experience.
• Experience negotiating with overseas vendors.
• Strong merchandising knowledge and fashion sense.
• Ability to spot and track trends.
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Market research to develop new and existing products/brands
• Communicate product/brand ideas to upper management
• Coordinate and direct copy and art teams to develop products/brands
• Work with vendors to negotiate cost, materials and product design
• Create initial purchase orders for new products
• Occasionally attend trade shows for research and inspiration
• Other duties as related to job

Skills

Market research

Vendor negotiation

Merchandising knowledge

Trend spotting

Fashion sense

Collaborative teamwork

Organization

Tools

PowerPoint

Adobe Creative Suite

Asana

Job description

We’re a team of product developers, sales professionals, and logistical geniuses who tackle each day with wide-eyed excitement! Every day, our team creates products that bring success to those who sell them and joy to those who buy them. Using our expertise in merchandising, DM introduces turn-key products and programs to a wide network of retailers. Our team envisions, develops, fulfills, and distributes all under one roof!

DM is known industry-wide for its unmatched variety, offering over 200 in-house brands and well over 3,000 different products. At DM, retailers have access to uniquely curated collections of active and loungewear, novelty apparel, fashion accessories, health and beauty essentials, impulse items, travel gear, readers and sunglasses, tech accessories, kitchenware, trend jewelry and more.

If you’re a creative thinker with unrivaled market instincts, this role is for you. As a Product Developer/Buyer for retailers worldwide, you will use gift industry knowledge, trends, and consumer habits to create, manage and direct multiple brands and products from concept to completion. You will develop new and continue existing brands, select products, stylings, and work with art and copy teams to bring physical product, packaging and merchandising to life. Most importantly, you

Position Responsibilities

• Market research to develop new and existing products/brands
• Communicate product/brand ideas to upper management
• Coordinate and direct copy and art teams to develop products/brands
• Work with vendors to negotiate cost, materials and product design
• Create initial purchase orders for new products
• Occasionally attend trade shows for research and inspiration
• Other duties as related to job

Preferred Skills / Experience

• Minimum 5 years product buying and/or product development experience
• Ability to interact and negotiate with overseas vendors
• Thorough knowledge of general merchandising
• Work well in a collaborative environment
• Ability to spot and track trends
• An eye for fashion and an appreciation for design
• Strategic thinker with an energetic personality
• Highly proficient in MS Office products (fully computer literate)
• Must be well organized with the ability to keep multiple projects on track simultaneously
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint (knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite or Asana is a plus!)