Merchandising Planner

Company Overview: Sigma Sports is a premier omnichannel destination retailer specialising in premium road and gravel cycling equipment. Renowned for curating high-quality products and delivering exceptional service, Sigma Sports operates the UK’s leading eCommerce platform, as well as three flagship stores located in Hampton Wick, Oakham and Letchworth, catering to passionate cyclists seeking top-tier performance and style.

Position Overview: Reporting directly into the Merchandising Manager, we are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Merchandising Planner to assist with the financial planning and analysis of inventory, assortment and strategies across our sales channels. The ideal candidate will have strong skills in forecasting, data interpretation, and cross-functional coordination to support the business in maximising sales, improving inventory health, and delivering on the financial KPI’s set within the Purchasing Department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performance Analysis: Generate and deliver actionable performance reports (daily, weekly, and monthly) to track KPIs, identify trends, and provide recommendations for business improvement.
• Budget and Financial Planning: Support the creation and tracking of merchandising budgets, including sales, margin, markdowns, and open-to-buy plans.
• Assortment Planning: Plan and curate product assortments that align with customer demand, seasonal trends, and market opportunities, balancing breadth and depth across categories.
• Sales Forecasting: Develop accurate sales forecasts across short-, medium-, and long-term periods to inform purchasing, assortment, and marketing strategies.
• Inventory Management: Monitor inventory levels across all platforms and manage order placement process, to ensure optimal stock availability and minimise overstock and stockouts.

Key Experience & Competencies Requirements:

• Proven experience of merchandising & financial planning in a retail and an e-commerce environment.
• Strong analytical and forecasting skills.
• Proficient in Excel, reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and ERP systems.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a commercial environment.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Proven ability to think critically, strategically and holistically, competently communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
• Technical skills working with large data sets, predominantly in Excel, and other visualisation tools.

Education: Degree level qualification, in Business, Retail Management, or a related field is preferred but not essential.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills.
• Results-driven and focused on delivering a seamless customer experience.
• Ability to communicate with conviction.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary.
• A supportive, passionate team that shares your love for cycling.
• Opportunities for career growth and professional development.
• Generous staff discounts across a wide range of premium cycling products.
• Work for a well-established and respected brand in the cycling community.
• Access to a dynamic environment with state-of-the-art workshops, bespoke bike fitting services, and expert advice.
• We offer 25 days of annual leave, in addition to the eight standard UK public holidays, providing a total of 33 days’ paid leave each year. This generous allowance supports a healthy work-life balance and exceeds the statutory minimum.
• In house cycle to work scheme.

Location: Hampton Wick, London (with occasional domestic and International travel). This position offers hybrid working flexibility with the option to work part of the time from home.

Send your CV and a short cover letter telling us why you’re the perfect fit to: luke.davison@sigmasports.com