Retail Planning Merchandiser

Retail Planning Merchandiser - Ben Sherman 

Ben Sherman started out in 1963 producing standout button down shirts from a factory in Brighton. Over 6 decades later the brand is still producing standout shirts, but has also expanded to a full lifestyle collection rich in the brands DNA. From the early days the brand has been linked to music and British subcultures and that remains a core aspect of the brands appeal today.

If you are passionate about being part of a British Heritage brand’s journey, why not join us?

Main Purpose of Job:

As a branch merchandiser you will play a vital role within the business to strategically plan the retail space to maximise sales performance through detailed analysis and future planning. Building & reporting on ideal stock holding targets by each location in line with budget sales plans and ideal stock cover for core, seasonal and terminal stock. Building distribution plans based on geographical location to ensure the right stock package for each local market to drive the budgeted density sales plans. Reviewing in season sales performance and reacting to stock mix to deliver sales & margin plans. To strategically plan the individual stores allocation stock package by size inline with sales demand in that area and supporting the trading team with detailed size analysis to ensure all buys are inline with sales requirement. 

In this role you will be responsible for project managing any new store openings ensure the right stock is in store for opening. 

Key Accountabilities:

Trade & Planning:

• Building opening stock packages for new stores based on linear count, budgets, seasonality and geographical location
• Project manage the critical path of all new openings. Working cross functionally with the visual merchandising, marketing & retail to ensure the right stock package is allocated and delivered in advance of store opening.
• Plan ideal stock mix by store to maximise sales performance
• Ensure seasonal stock builds are inline with the trading calendar and key events
• Build allocation plans by store & size for both core and new seasonal stock packages in line with their sales plan
• Responsible for setting store grading framework for allocations. Regularly reviewing with the regional managers to ensure stores are in the right place.
• Review initial PAR levels by store regularly in line with trade and adjust accordingly to ensure replenishment is maximised in the right store.
• Lead store visits using analysis at category level to support the store in maximising space to increase density
• With detailed analysis on sales by size by location supporting trading team to ensure future buys are inline with store allocation plans
• Provide detailed sales analysis by brand and category by store, feeding into the trading team and support with future opportunities in range building
• Working closely with the retail team to manage re-groups across the estate to reduce range fragmentation and increase sell through ability to make decisions with consideration for the wider impact.
• Create & manage communication process between head office and stores
• Ensure all brand strategies are executed in line with the overall business needs and communicate these to the wider team
• Full understanding of customer needs to maximise sales and margin
• Develop & implement better ways of working across merchandising and retail.
• Strategically plan and implement how to improve key KPI’s including AVT, UPT & conversion with the right stock holding of all categories
• Weekly reporting on size availability Vs planned level – ensuring you deliver a 95% availability target
• Undertake regular store visits with trading, retail & VM Teams

People:

• Be a team player - understanding priorities and workload of other departments.
• Excellent communication and networking skills at all levels
• Train and develop junior members of the team – AMs, AAMs
• Ability to lead & deliver a meeting with external partners and clients
• Working closely with retail team to ensure right product is in the right stores and to understand the different geographical customers to deliver sales & margin

Additional responsibility:

• Responsible for ensuring all documents are checked and correct for the use of the Merchandising and wider BSI teams before distribution
• Ad hoc tasks within the Branch Merchandising team will be require
• Attending seasonal launches
• To manage the departments cost centre in regards with POS
• Ensuring the BSI Senior Management Team are communicated to in an effective and timely manner

Communications & Working Relationships:

Work cross functionally with the teams within BSI:

• IT
• Buying
• Finance
• Web Team
• Merchandising
• Warehouse
• Accounts
• Shipping/Sourcing
• Visual Merchandising
• Marketing
• QA 
• Retail
• Build relationships with suppliers and travel to supplier meetings when required
• Regular contact and meetings at director level

Personal Specification

Knowledge & Skills:

• The ability to cope with the pressure of having to make important decisions and meet tight deadlines
• Knowledge of relevant product categories, market trends and competitors
• Presentation skills - visual, verbal and written
• Organisational skills
• Team player - ability to manage working relationships at all levels
• Numerate - working with margin calculations and budgets
• Analytical skills – ability to analyse and interpret various data sources and reports
• Problem solving skills - able to make the right the decision when faced with sales / margin / supply issues
• Understanding of the clothing industry & trading environments. Broad knowledge of either retail or wholesale environments
• Strategic thinker - able to look forward and innovate
• Self-motivated