In perhaps another sign of Amazon’s growing interest in the industry, the e-commerce giant is advertising for a China-based senior manager of sourcing for “furniture and factory direct.”

In an ad posted on the Glassdoor job search site under "Furniture Designer Jobs in China," Amazon said the sourcing manager “will be responsible for executing and improving the best practices in global sourcing.”

“The talented individual will be able to manage the global sourcing process from A to Z including product planning, vendor/item set-up and maintenance, pricing, packaging, assortment and vendor relations.”

In an eight-point basic qualifications list, the Amazon said, “experience in negotiations, pricing, lean supply chain management, international logistics, product compliance, product development, branding, packaging, importing are a plus” and that the candidate should “be an expert with respect to product management (Furniture) with a focus on quality and performance.

Under “preferred qualifications,” Amazon said it’s looking for someone who has knowledge of global sourcing, success in defining and launching products and can assist factories with navigating its systems.

It’s not clear if this is a new position in a move to build an assortment of direct-sourced furniture or if Amazon is seeking to fill an existing post. The company did not immediately respond to requests for additional information from Furniture Today.

In recent months, the e-commerce retailer has made more than a handful of moves to suggest its interest in the furniture category is only growing. During the April High Point Market, for instance, it pitched retailers on a new program that would let them sell on the Amazon marketplace, while defining their own delivery boundaries and pricing (Amazon would get a 15% cut of the sale and 20% on services, such as delivery and setup).

Earlier this year, Ethan Allen launched an Ethan Allen Design Studio on the marketplace. Amazon also is partnering with e-commerce bedding company Tuft & Needle on plans to launch co-branded stores. E-commerce retailer Benchmade Modern recently brought its line to Amazon, and according to an unconfirmed New York Times report, Amazon is considering opening its own furniture and appliance stores.

(Source: furnituretoday.com)