Overview

Join to apply for the Senior Buyer (maternity cover) role at Caroline Gardner Publishing.

We’re seeking an experienced and creative retail buyer to join our team on a fixed term basis! This is a full time / maternity cover / fixed term contract from Dec 2025 to Dec 2026 / hybrid.

As a Senior Buyer, you will play a pivotal role in driving product strategy, commercial growth, and supplier relationships for the business. Reporting directly to the Owner, Caroline Gardner, you will be responsible for developing and executing strategic buying plans across all product areas, including own brand accessories, loungewear, homeware, gift wrap, stationery as well as branded buying across these areas; ensuring ranges are commercially viable, on-trend, and deliver strong margins.

You will work closely with Design, Sales, and Merchandising teams to build ranges, manage critical paths, and identify new product opportunities. This role also involves sourcing and negotiating with suppliers globally, maintaining quality standards, and managing a junior team member to ensure operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Strategy/business growth
• Work with the Merchandising Team and Design Director to develop a strategic product plan for all business models to maximise the profitability of the business.
• Be responsible for buying all areas of the business, seeking opportunities for growth/margin improvement.

• Product
• Work alongside the Design Team to interpret trends commercially for the CG brand.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of competitor activity and pricing.
• Undertake product development and range building.
• Identify opportunities for new product ranges/new products for retail.
• Focus on delivering great quality product, managing testing and necessary certification.
• Work closely with the Sales Director to ensure product opportunities are delivered and quality issues resolved.
• Negotiate buys to a high level, understanding the cost of componentry and ensuring design team have full knowledge when creating products.
• Manage shipping of goods to JBH/retail store.

• Supplier
• Maintain critical path, ensuring ranges are delivered on time, potentialising sales.
• Create and manage pricing architecture.
• Manage and build supply base both in the UK and Far East, maintaining excellent relations.
• Source new suppliers where needed worldwide.
• Deliver margin growth and balance margin requirements, initiate open costings where required.

• Team
• Nurture, manage, motivate, and train team members ensuring they are supported at all times.
• Maintaining close working relationships with all other departments.
• React to and positively manage change.
• Experienced in retail buying
• Previous company to be relevant retailer / wholesaler
• Experienced in sales analysis, trading and strategy
• Ability to prioritise
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Highly organised and show initiative in a fast-paced environment
• An effective, fair and competent manager
• Ability to manage upwards, downwards and across
• Clearly communicates priorities
• Good team player
• Passion for the product

Salary & benefits

We offer a competitive salary depending on experience. Benefits include hybrid working (upon successful completion of probationary period/3 office days), a generous annual leave allowance plus discretionary day off for your birthday, staff discount of up to 65%, discretionary annual bonus scheme, pension and group life assurance policy, an Employee Assistance Programme, weekly fruit delivery and refreshments, and much more.

This is a fixed term maternity cover, full-time contract (five days per week, 9.00am–5.30pm) to commence 1 December 2025 to 1 December 2026 upon completion of checks.

This role is based at our Head Office in Putney, London.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter, explaining your current experience and reasons for applying directly to HR via jobs@carolinegardner.com.

If your application is shortlisted, the interview process will consist of a number of stages, the first of which will be a remote interview via Teams with HR and the current postholder.

Company

Caroline Gardner is one of the UK’s most loved design brands - best known for our beautiful stationery, cards, and stylish home & gifting collections. Based in South-West London, we supply a wide range of design-led retailers, from high street names and department stores to independent galleries worldwide.

Alongside our thriving wholesale business, we have a successful boutique on London’s Marylebone High Street and a fast-growing e-commerce platform. Our products blend quirky charm with timeless sophistication, and over 30 years we’ve built a loyal customer base who love our instantly recognisable designs.

As a proud B-Corp, we’re committed to creating products that last, delivering exceptional service, and working with integrity. With ambitious growth plans ahead, we’re looking for brilliant people to help us write our next chapter.

Caroline Gardner is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability or age.

For more information about us and the role, head to our website!