Product Developer (Furniture and Home Decor)

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada | Full-time

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Company

Mercana is one of North America’s leading home furnishings wholesalers, with interior designers and retail partners around the globe. As a “design-first” company, we produce unique pieces for the home each season, including wall art, furniture, lighting, and home decor accessories

Summary

As a Product Developer you are responsible for managing the end-to-end process of developing new products, from concept to production. This role involves collaborating with the design team to create innovative and market-relevant designs, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring that products are developed within budget and meet quality standards. The Product Developer also oversees the prototyping and testing phases and ensures that products are launched on time. Success in this role requires strong project management skills, a deep understanding of furniture materials and production, and the ability to balance creativity with operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

Product Design & Development:

×        Collaborate with the design team to create innovative furniture designs aligned with market trends, customer preferences, and brand identity.

×        Translate design concepts into detailed technical drawings and specifications.

×        Maintain accurate documentation of each design feature, technical specifications, revisions, support material and project timelines.

×        Prototype development: Work with manufacturers to develop prototypes, ensuring the design integrity is maintained.

Material Sourcing & Vendor Management:

×        Identify and source materials, fabrics, and finishes that meet design and quality standards.

×        Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and manufacturers.

×        Ensure materials are cost-effective, durable, and compliant with regulatory standards.

Project Management:

×        Manage the entire product development cycle from concept to final production, ensuring products are launched on schedule.

×        Coordinate with internal departments such as design, marketing, visual merchandising, sales, and logistics to ensure smooth product rollouts.

×        Monitor timelines and address any production delays or quality issues.

Quality Assurance & Compliance:

×        Ensure that products meet the company’s quality standards and comply with North American regulatory standards.

×        Oversee testing of products for durability, safety, and functionality.

Cross-Department Collaboration:

×        Work closely with marketing, sales and product management teams to align product features and benefits with customer needs and product strategies.

×        Provide support with product information.

Continuous Improvement:

×        Review and assess feedback on products, identifying areas for improvement in future product iterations.

×        Work on optimizing production processes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance quality.

 

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Time to Market (TTM):

×          Measures how quickly a product goes from concept to launch, with the goal of speeding up development while maintaining quality.

Product Launch Success Rate:

×          Tracks the percentage of successful product launches, aiming to ensure products meet market demand and reduce failures.

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Optimization:

×          Focuses on reducing production costs while maintaining quality to boost profitability.

Supplier and Vendor Performance:

×          Evaluates suppliers based on delivery times, quality, and cost, with the goal of ensuring reliable and efficient sourcing.

Prototype Success Rate:

×          Measures how many prototypes move to production with minimal changes, aiming to streamline development and reduce costs.

Quality Control & Product Defects:

×          Tracks product defects to ensure high-quality production, reduce returns, and protect the brand's reputation.

Customer Feedback and Satisfaction (Post-Launch):

×          Gauges customer satisfaction and return rates post-launch to ensure products meet market expectations and build brand loyalty.

 

What’s in it for you?

At Mercana, we want to ensure that we continually invest in our greatest resource—our people. We hope to make your employment experience with us the best possible by offering employee perks and benefits that contribute to a balanced and enjoyable lifestyle for you and your family.

What we offer:

  • A dynamic work environment with great people
  • Extended health and dental benefits for you and your family
  • Flexible work hours
  • Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for Mercana staff
  • Annual performance incentives may be offered based on overall company objectives being met
  • Subsidized training and education

Salary Range: $50,000 - $80,000 per year based on experience