Merchandiser

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 optimum stock targets, bearing in mind buffer stocks, retail 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 core seasonal issues. • To fully potentialize peak trading periods and develop well rounded plans to protect critical trading issues • To ensure that orders are placed in line with system forecasts and ordering cycles • To plan promotional activity to keep obsolete stocks in line and potentialize sales. • To understand and trade the MTO 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 • 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 Sales Reactive Allocation System and use to maximise retail sales and profit. Key Skills & Responsibilities Essential – • Strong excel skills • Experience within a Merchandiser role • Highly numerate • Good presentation skills • Knowledge of critical path and product lifecycle of similar category • Commercially aware with interest in fashion retail industry • Able to work both independently and within a small team. • Ability to manage heavy workload and meet tight deadlines. • Be proactive and self-motivated • Experience in people management. • Excellent organisational and problem solving skills. • Be flexible, enthusiastic and confident Desirable – • Minimum 5 years of experience in multi channel retailing • Previous experience in relevant category. • Enjoy working in a small/medium sized company.