Retail Product Developer

We are seeking an organized and detail-oriented Retail Product Developer with expertise in garment production and sourcing to manage the development of our in-house apparel range, The Wimbledon Collection. Working closely with the Production Manager, the ideal candidate will be responsible for coordinating the production of multiple categories from design through to ex-factory, ensuring all products meet quality standards, deadlines, and budget requirements. The role requires a strong understanding of garment sourcing, supplier management, and retail trends, as well as excellent project management skills.

About Us

The All-England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Limited (AELTC) organises and stages The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.

The AELTC has delivered substantial top line growth in recent years and expects that growth to continue, including the expansion of its retail and merchandising business. This supports the AELTC's goal of delivering the world's premier tennis tournament at one of the world's most prestigious tennis clubs.

Retail at Wimbledon is operation in-house, with design, development and sourcing of our own apparel, accessories and gifting collections taking place at SW19. Working closely with the Senior Product & Design Manager, Designer and Production Manager, the role is responsible for translating product strategy into commercially successful collections. The role will combine a strong understanding of product development with commercial planning to ensure ranges are customer-focussed and aligned to the Wimbledon brand.

Role & Responsibilities:

Product Development

• Category Ownership: leading development of Wimbledon's lifestyle apparel, accessories and gifting from concept through to production.
• Production Coordination: Following the product critical path and coordinating delivery against key launch dates, ensuring
• Supplier Management: Preparing product briefs for suppliers and designers and manage sampling, product reviews and costing exercises to ensure both commercial viability and alignment to Wimbledon's expectations of quality and aesthetic.
• Sourcing Expertise: Work collaboratively with suppliers to improve product quality and functionality, always prioritising ethical and sustainable sourcing practices. Sourcing of fabrics and trims should be in accordance with the design specifications, production and costing requirements.
• Sampling & Prototyping: oversee the sampling process for own categories ensuring these meet design expectations and adjustments as necessary. Provide feedback on fit, quality and material selection.
• Work closely with colleagues in retail operations, ecommerce and marketing teams to ensure successful product launches
• Support marketing campaigns with product insights and commercial recommendations
• Work alongside the Designer and Production Manager to the ensure that creative concepts are translated into product effectively across all categories and delivered on time and to budget Support the delivery of the product strategy and long-term vision, bringing product to our collections which meets commercial briefs and aligns to the expectations of our guests at The Championships.
• Review product costs and identify opportunities for margin improvement
• Support and attend factory visits and supplier meetings where required, including some international travel to Europe and the Far East.

Category & Range Planning

• Deliver seasonal and annual assortment structures and option counts across owned product categories.
• Establish good-better-best product architecture and pricing ladders, with consideration of how these tiers are communicated to customer.
• Recommend buy depth and category weighting
• Build size curves and buying ratios, using historical data and working closely with the designer to understand proportionate fit and styling
• Regularly review category performance and recommend actions to maximise sales, sell-through and profitability.
• Regular analysis of sales, stock and customer segmentation data to identify trends and opportunities
• Evaluate performance at category and product level, sharing relevant trend information with Designer to ensure that further collections are optimised towards proven commercial success.
• Use insight to inform buying decisions and product development priorities.
• Date driven recommendations, supporting the development and evolution of our ranges and pricing architecture
• Produce clear reporting and visual summaries to support decision making across the department.

Customer & Market Insight

• Develop an understanding of Wimbledon's guests at The Championships, and of our online customer, their purchasing behaviours and their expectations of our collections.
• Analyse customer feedback, from product reviews and instore captures, to identify any unmet needs or opportunities.
• Regular store visits for our competitive set, conducting comparative reviews of our own product categories and ranging

Person Specification

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel Production, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in garment production, sourcing, or a related role within the retail industry.
• Strong knowledge of garment manufacturing processes, including sourcing, pattern making, fabric selection, and quality control.
• Experience working with international vendors, understanding global sourcing trends, and managing production across multiple regions.
• Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines effectively.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop would be beneficial
• Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality and cost management.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment.
• Familiarity with sustainability practices in garment production and sourcing.
• Experience with managing a product's lifecycle from concept to retail floor.