Head of Product

Head of Product

About us 

With 140+ years of heritage, Empee is a leading UK B2B fabric wholesaler, trusted by Fabric retailers, and manufacturers in the fashion, Hobby and craft industries. We’re currently undergoing a bold rebrand and digital transformation to reshape the future of textile wholesale and elevate the customer experience.  

We are looking for a commercially driven and product-focused Head of Product to lead the product and purchasing direction of Empee Silk Fabrics.This is a hands-on role combining product strategy, sourcing, range development and supplier management. You will take ownership of driving our product offering forward — identifying new opportunities, developing ranges and ensuring we are sourcing the right products at the right price and time.We are looking for someone with strong commercial instinct who can understand our customers, recognise market opportunities and turn ideas into successful fabric ranges.

Job Description 

Location: On-site (Edmonton, North London) 

Job Type: Full Time 

Salary: £50,000

Key Responsibilities·       Own and drive our product and range strategy, across both existing and new categories.·       Identify gaps, trends and commercial opportunities and translate them into new products and ranges.·       Proactively source new fabrics, qualities and suppliers in the UK and internationally.·       Manage new product development from initial idea through sampling, costing, selection and production.·       Lead our design and range-development programme, working with suppliers and external designers where required.·       Plan seasonal and ongoing ranges in line with customer demand, market trends and sales performance.·       Manage and develop key supplier relationships across pricing, quality, lead times and product development.·       Work closely with the CEO on significant supplier negotiations, buying decisions and commercial opportunities.·       Resolve supplier-side product, quality and commercial issues where required.·       Work closely with Sales and Merchandising to ensure product decisions reflect customer demand and stock performance.·       Lead the wider Product & Purchasing function and take ownership of its overall performance.What We're Looking For·       Strong experience within product development, buying, sourcing or merchandising.·       Experience with physical products; textiles, fabrics, fashion, interiors or wholesale experience would be highly advantageous.·       Strong product instinct and the ability to identify commercial opportunities.·       Experience sourcing and developing products with suppliers.·       Confident negotiating pricing, quantities, lead times and commercial terms.·       Strong understanding of trends, customer demand and range development.·       Commercially sharp, proactive and comfortable taking ownership.·       Strong supplier relationship and communication skills.·       Able to combine creativity and product thinking with strong commercial judgement.The OpportunityEmpee is an established fabric wholesaler with a long history, but we are currently taking the business into its next stage of growth — investing in our product ranges, digital capabilities, sales structure and the way we operate.This is an opportunity to take real ownership of product within the business and help shape what Empee sells next.We are looking for someone who can take an idea or opportunity and make it happen — whether that means developing a new range with an existing supplier, identifying the next major fabric trend or sourcing something completely new from around the world.

Empee