Merchandiser

Support the Head of Merchandising in all aspects of the Merchandising function.  To maximise profit and cash sales through efficient stock management, potentialising sales and minimising markdown. To plan and trade each range ensuring that profits are potentialised, within agreed company objectives, under the guidance of the Head of Merchandising.

To ensure that there is a coherent communication strategy for both performance and product issues relating to the rest of the Business.

Responsibilities:

Planning

• To review historical performance and determine future product strategy, working closely with the Product team.
• To present in commercial sign off and trade meetings to senior management.
• To provide regular performance reviews across all Business channels.
• To review Competitor activity with the Buyer to challenge future product strategy.
• To plan internet and retail requirements, to propose ranging. To ensure that planning is reflected to best meet commercial needs.
• To plan new season buy in line with both range, category and segment planning across all Business channels.
• To determine  stock targets, bearing in mind any stock reduction requirements .Also plan buffer stocks where needed, retail and ecom requirements and lead times.
• To plan pricing strategy, working closely with the Product Team to secure overall margin targets.
• To provide regular intake planning details to enable operations to plan resources effectively.
• To manage WSSI to plan and trade department in line with KPI budgets.

Trading

• To ensure that the Monday management pack is reconciled effectively, including validation of stock and sales forecasting.
• To establish an ordering critical path, reflecting catalogue schedules and seasonal patterns.
• To fully potentialise peak trading periods and develop well rounded plans to protect critical trading times such as  Xmas and the sale periods.
• To plan promotional activity to keep stocks in line and potentialise sales.
• To understand and trade the Concessions and Wholesale side of the business.

Commercial Awareness

• To undertake regular store visits - ideally store visits should be undertaken at least every month.
• To produce appropriate business reports after each visit and follow up action plans.
• To undertake competitor visits on a regular basis, feedback any relevant points and put into place any required action plans.
• To understand, prioritise and work to the critical dates and deadlines in both the planning and trading process.
• To consistently deliver excellent standards of customer service.

Merchandising Systems

• To develop an excellent working knowledge of all Merchandising systems including WSSI tool and category planning
• To identify and propose improved working practices and updates to systems.
• To action detailed integrity checks as necessary to ensure the efficient running of the department
• To ensure the team maximise use of the Allocation System and use to maximise retail sales and profit.

Management, training and development of team and self

• To take responsibility for own personal development and to foster good working relationships across the Business.
• To continually review processes and controls, initiating improvements in best practise as necessary.
• To assist in the development and training of the merchandising team.
• To manage the team on a day to day basis