Every great product starts as an idea.
It becomes a sketch.
A sample.
A prototype.
A finished product.
It moves through sourcing, production, quality control and supplier management before reaching retailers, wholesalers and, ultimately, customers.
Behind every stage are talented people making hundreds of decisions that determine whether a product succeeds.
At Zachary Daniels, we help Retail, Consumer and Ecommerce businesses recruit the people who bring products to life.
From Design and Product Development through to Technical, Production, Sourcing and Wholesale, we connect ambitious brands with talented people who combine creativity, technical expertise and commercial understanding.
Whether you’re building a creative team, strengthening your product function or appointing a senior leader, we help you find people who fit your brand, your product and your ambition.
Recruiting within product functions isn’t simply about finding someone with a strong portfolio or an impressive CV.
The best appointments combine creativity with commercial awareness.
They understand customers.
They understand suppliers.
They understand product.
And they know how to work collaboratively across Buying, Merchandising, Technical, Production and Wholesale teams.
That’s why we never recruit purely against a job title.
Before beginning any search, we want to understand:
Only then do we begin identifying talent.
Many of the strongest Designers, Product Developers, Garment Technologists and Wholesale professionals aren’t actively looking for a new role.
They’re already helping brands develop successful products.
Our role is to identify them, understand what motivates them and introduce only the people genuinely worth your time.
Because you don’t need more CVs.
You need the right shortlist.
If you work in Design, Product Development, Technical, Production or Wholesale, your next move should be about more than a new job title.
It should give you the opportunity to create better products, work with inspiring people, develop your skills and make a bigger commercial impact.
For some people that’s joining an established global brand.
For others it’s becoming part of an ambitious business with exciting growth plans.
The right opportunity looks different for everyone.
That’s why we take the time to understand what matters to you before recommending opportunities.
Whether you’re looking for your first Design role, moving into leadership or exploring a new product category, we’ll give you honest advice and introduce opportunities where your experience can genuinely make a difference.
Great products aren’t created by one person.
They’re created by teams.
Designers shape the creative vision.
Product Developers turn ideas into commercially viable products.
Technical teams make sure products fit, perform and meet quality standards.
Production and Sourcing teams bring products to life through supplier partnerships and manufacturing.
Wholesale teams build relationships that get those products into retailers around the world.
The strongest brands don’t treat these functions as separate silos.
They collaborate.
Understanding how these teams work together helps us identify people who will succeed, not just in the role itself, but across the wider business.
Although these functions work closely together, each brings something different to the product journey.
The boundaries between these functions continue to evolve.
The strongest professionals increasingly combine specialist expertise with broader commercial understanding.
The way products are developed has changed significantly over recent years.
Across Retail, Consumer and Ecommerce we’re seeing several clear trends.
Understanding these trends helps businesses build stronger teams and helps candidates make better long-term career decisions.
Our Product, Design & Wholesale team combines decades of specialist recruitment experience across creative, technical and commercial product functions.
Many of our consultants have built careers within retail before moving into recruitment. Between us, we’ve studied Fashion Design, Fashion Buying and Fashion Business & Management, worked alongside suppliers, supported product development and partnered with some of the UK’s best-known retail and consumer brands.
That first-hand experience means we understand the realities behind every brief.
Whether you’re hiring a Designer, Product Developer, Garment Technologist or Wholesale Director, you’ll be working with people who genuinely understand the market because they’ve experienced it themselves.
We’re proud to have supported businesses ranging from fast-growing challenger brands to some of the UK’s best-known names across Fashion, Sportswear, Lifestyle, Home and Consumer Goods.
Some of the clients we’ve partnered with:
Creative Director • Design Director • Head of Design • Design Manager • Senior Designer • Designer • Print Designer • Graphic Designer • CAD Designer
Head of Product Development • Product Development Manager • Product Developer • Product Coordinator
Technical Director • Head of Technical • Technical Manager • Senior Garment Technologist • Garment Technologist • Product Technologist • Footwear Technologist • Fit Technician • Quality Assurance
Production Director • Head of Production • Production Manager • Production Coordinator • Head of Sourcing • Sourcing Director • Sourcing Manager • Head of Ethical & Social Compliance • Pattern Cutter • Sample Machinist
Sales Director • Head of Wholesale • Wholesale Sales Manager • National Account Manager • Account Manager • Wholesale Coordinator • Wholesale Assistant • Showroom Manager
Need help defining a role or understanding how these functions fit together? Our Job Description Templates are a great place to start.
We partnered with a growing retail brand to strengthen its creative function, supporting multiple senior appointments across Design and Product Development. By understanding both the brand identity and commercial objectives, we helped build a team capable of supporting the next stage of growth.
As a consumer brand expanded its wholesale operation, we supported key appointments across Sales and Account Management, helping strengthen retailer relationships and support continued UK growth.
Salaries vary depending on seniority, product category, location and brand. Explore our Product & Design Salary Guide for current market benchmarks.
Yes. We recruit across Fashion, Sportswear, Outdoor, Home, Lifestyle, Beauty, Luxury and Consumer brands.
Absolutely. Many creative and technical skills transfer successfully between sectors. Understanding where those skills translate best is something we advise clients and candidates on every day.
Today’s employers value more than creativity. They’re looking for commercial awareness, collaboration, customer understanding and the ability to work across Design, Buying, Merchandising, Technical and Production teams.
Yes. Alongside UK appointments, we support international recruitment across Product, Design, Technical, Production and Wholesale functions.
Our dedicated Buying & Merchandising team specialises in commercial Buying, Merchandising and Trading appointments. Visit our Buying & Merchandising Recruitment page to learn more.
Buying & Merchandising Recruitment
Whether you’re appointing your first Designer, strengthening your Product Development team or hiring a Wholesale Director to support future growth, we’d love to help.
You may already have an active vacancy, or you may simply want to understand the market, benchmark salaries or discuss how Product and Design teams are evolving across Retail, Consumer and Ecommerce.
Either way, speak to the Zachary Daniels team. We’re always happy to share what we’re seeing.
Explore our latest Product, Design, Technical and Wholesale opportunities or send us your CV to start a confidential conversation with our specialist team.
Albert House, 256-260 Old St, Shoreditch, London, EC1V 9DD
Spaces Lewis Building, Bull Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 6AF
Riverside Court, Chester Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6AR
204-206 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HW
Forsyth House, Cromac Street, Belfast, BT2 8LA
We take pride in understanding your business needs through industry knowledge. Whether you need professionals in fashion retail, e-commerce, or traditional store management, our tailored approach ensures that we find the right candidates for your needs.