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- Tasks: Lead merchandising strategy, stock planning, and visual merchandising for a dynamic stationery brand.
- Company: Join Ryman, a 130-year-old leader in stationery and office supplies, part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous holidays, wellness support, and exclusive discounts across brands.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a collaborative environment while driving product strategy and customer engagement.
- Qualifications: Degree in Business or Merchandising with 2-4 years of leadership experience in retail merchandising.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team that values growth, innovation, and inclusivity.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Hours: 37.5 (Monday - Friday) Office based, Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 17:00
Location: Crewe
Annual Salary: Competitive
WHAT WILL THIS ROLE INVOLVE?
We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Merchandising to lead our product assortment, stock/inventory planning, and visual merchandising teams. This is a critical leadership role that will drive our product strategy, ensuring we offer a compelling and profitable range of stationery that resonates with our target audience and reinforces our brand identity. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of retail merchandising, a strong analytical mindset, and a passion for stationery.
WHAT WILL YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR?
- Strategic Vision & Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy aligned with the company's overall business objectives, brand vision, and financial goals. Identify market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscapes to inform product development and assortment planning. Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing merchandising/stock team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Stock & Allocation Management: Own the end to end stock flow strategy including intake phasing, allocations, replenishment and clearance. Work with Supply Chain and Retail Operations to optimise stock availability across all channels. Full ownership of the WSSI and on-going development.
- Product Assortment & Planning: Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from concept and development to launch and discontinuation. Collaborate closely with the buying team, design, and Far East sourcing teams to ensure timely and effective product launches. Develop and manage product assortments across all categories, channels and price points, optimising all for sales, margin, and inventory turns. Conduct regular sales analysis, performance reviews, and forecasting to identify opportunities and mitigate risks. Manage open-to-buy (OTB) and inventory levels to maximise profitability and minimise excess stock.
- Space and Visual Planning: Define and implement visual merchandising guidelines for all retail environments ensuring consistent brand representation and an engaging customer experience. Develop compelling in-store displays, planograms, and promotional strategies to drive sales and enhance the customer journey. Lead space and layout planning including planogramming, seasonal promotional layouts and ensuring profitable space return. Use space productivity data to influence range rationalisation and layout resets.
- Vendor Relationships & Sourcing: Collaborate with stock and merchandising and buying team to identify, evaluate, and manage vendor relationships, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and ethical practices. Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to deliver a market leading on time, if full (OTIF) to enable KPI delivery.
- Collaboration & Communication: Work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, finance, and buying teams to ensure seamless execution of merchandising strategies. Present merchandising strategies, performance reports, and insights to senior leadership. Create board decks and present to Senior leadership teams the Merchandising strategies.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:
- Degree in Business, Merchandising preferred
- Industry experience in merchandising, with at least 2-4 years in a leadership role, preferably within the stationery, gift, home goods, or a similar consumer products industry.
- Proven track record of developing and executing successful merchandising strategies that drive sales growth and profitability.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Expertise in retail inventory management, and open-to-buy planning.
- Demonstrated experience in visual merchandising and creating compelling product presentations.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
- Lead with humility and builds a culture of challenge and collaboration.
- Comfortable with fast paced decision making and takes accountability and ownership for their decisions.
- Commercially curious and thrived on improving processes and outcomes.
- Proficiency in merchandising software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
- A genuine passion for stationery products and an understanding of the stationery market is highly desirable.
WHAT WILL WE OFFER YOU?
- A passionate, dynamic team where your growth, ideas, and impact matter.
- A competitive pay package.
- Company pension scheme with the option to enhance.
- Generous holiday allowance including an extra wellbeing day that gives you time to recharge.
- Training programme to help you excel in your role.
- Opportunities through our apprenticeship programs to keep building on your skills.
- Access to mental health first aiders, wellness sessions, and support groups.
- Exclusive discounts across all of our brands and through our benefits hub.
- Cycle2Work scheme.
- Long service and recognition awards.
- Colleague referral scheme.
- Company and team social events.
- Free on-site parking.
- Subsidised canteen.
WHO ARE WE?
Founded by Henry J Ryman in 1893, Ryman has been the go-to destination for stationery, office supplies, printing, technology, and more for over 130 years. We are part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, which also includes Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue, and London Graphic Centre. From our very first store on Great Portland Street, we have grown to over 200 locations and a thriving website and app offering quality products and exceptional service. We believe in supporting our colleagues and equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to grow, thrive, and have fun whilst doing it. At Ryman, all of our teams from our stores to our warehouse and Retail Support Centre are passionate about retail. We put our customers first and have a common goal to keep them at the heart of everything we do. We are energetic and enthusiastic, delivering results through resilience, innovation, and adaptability. If you are a team player who's ready to make an impact, this could be the perfect role for you. Ryman is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce and follow the guidelines of the Equality Act. Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate differences, encourage everyone to join us, and be themselves at work.
PLEASE NOTE THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT OTHER DUTIES AS AND WHEN REQUIRED.
Head of Merchandising, Space and Inventory Planning employer: Ryman
Contact Detail:
Ryman Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Merchandising, Space and Inventory Planning
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in merchandising and inventory management, especially within the stationery sector. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your passion for the industry.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and merchandising field. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even referrals to opportunities at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and executed merchandising strategies in the past. Highlight your analytical skills and how you've used data to drive decisions, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Ryman's brand identity and product offerings thoroughly. Understanding their unique position in the market will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how you can contribute to their vision and goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Merchandising, Space and Inventory Planning
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising, inventory planning, and leadership roles. Use specific examples that demonstrate your analytical skills and successful strategies you've implemented in previous positions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for stationery and how your background aligns with the company's vision. Mention specific achievements in merchandising and how you can contribute to Ryman's goals.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical skills, include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Highlight any experience with inventory management and forecasting.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to your leadership style, experience with vendor relationships, and how you approach visual merchandising. Prepare thoughtful responses that reflect your expertise and fit for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ryman
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
As a Head of Merchandising, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy. Prepare examples of how you've identified market trends and consumer preferences in the past, and be ready to discuss how you would align these with the company's objectives.
✨Highlight Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership capabilities. Be prepared to share specific instances where you've successfully led and mentored a team. Discuss how you foster collaboration and innovation within your team, as well as how you handle challenges.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Expertise
Given the importance of data in this role, come equipped with examples of how you've used analytics to drive decisions in stock management and product assortment. Be ready to discuss your experience with inventory management and how you've optimised stock availability in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaboration is key in this position. Think about times when you've worked with different departments, such as marketing or finance, to implement merchandising strategies. Be ready to discuss how you communicate insights and performance reports to senior leadership.
