At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in managing the merchandising process from order to delivery.
- Company: Join a leading fashion retailer known for its innovative approach and stylish offerings.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working options and a vibrant company culture with exciting perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team that shapes fashion trends and drives commercial success.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Senior Merchandiser or Merchandise Manager in clothing is essential.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term contract based in London.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are recruiting for a fashion retailer who are looking for an experienced Merchandise Manager for a 12 month FTC.
Based in London, you\’ll play a pivotal role within the Merchandising team, reporting directly to the Merchandising Director. You\’ll oversee the end-to-end critical path, from initial order placement through to delivery, ensuring seamless cross-functional collaboration between Buying, Design, and Supply Chain.
This role is a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on leadership, requiring you to manage a high-performing team while delivering commercial results in line with global objectives.
This role offers hybrid working.
Main Responsibilities will include:
- Lead, inspire, and develop a team of Senior Merchandisers, Junior Merchandisers, and Assistants.
- Collaborate with Senior Buyers and Design to build balanced, commercial ranges across genders and categories.
- Manage the option count and range planning process across all genders and categories, incorporating global partner needs.
- Deliver a top line strategy to the Executive team, ensuring margin targets are met along with a considered RRP architecture.
- Act as a key point of contact for global wholesale partners and operating companies, maintaining strong and proactive relationships.
- Align with partners on forecasts, range plans, pricing, and delivery timelines, ensuring local market requirements are reflected in assortment strategies.
- Lead regular trading and review meetings with key accounts, preparing and presenting detailed insights and performance analyses.
- Proactively identify and troubleshoot partner-specific challenges related to product assortment, timing, pricing, or margin pressures, offering practical, data-driven solutions.
- Monitor and react to in-season trading performance, ensuring their OTB is optimised.
- Own and manage the top-line critical path for product delivery, ensuring all milestones from order placement to shipment meet agreed KPIs for timeliness and quality.
Person Specification:
- Previous experience at Senior Merchandiser or Merchandise Manager level, ideally within a clothing wholesale environment.
- Strong product understanding with a passion for fashion and commercial instinct.
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and execution-focused, with a proactive and solution-driven approach.
- Confident communicator who can adapt to a variety of stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment.
- A problem-solver, capable of navigating ambiguity and resolving complex issues independently and with cross-functional teams.
- Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret and translate data into actionable insights.
Merchandise Manager (FTC) employer: TRP Recruitment
Contact Detail:
TRP Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandise Manager (FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in fashion merchandising. Understanding current market dynamics and consumer preferences will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the fashion industry, especially those who work in merchandising roles. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could provide insights or referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and delivered results in previous roles. Highlight your leadership style and how it aligns with the company's objectives.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company’s product lines and their approach to merchandising. Being able to articulate how you would enhance their current strategies will demonstrate your genuine interest and proactive mindset.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandise Manager (FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising, especially any roles where you've managed teams or collaborated with cross-functional departments. Use specific examples that demonstrate your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for fashion and your understanding of the commercial aspects of merchandising. Mention how your previous experiences align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your ability to deliver results and manage relationships with global partners.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Since the role requires strong analytical abilities, include examples in your application that demonstrate your proficiency in interpreting data and translating it into actionable insights. Highlight any experience you have with Excel and financial analysis.
Prepare for Interviews: If selected for an interview, be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you resolved them. Prepare to talk about your approach to team leadership and how you ensure alignment across different functions within a business.
How to prepare for a job interview at TRP Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Merchandise Manager, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've inspired and developed your team in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Acumen
This role requires a strong understanding of commercial strategies. Be ready to talk about how you've successfully managed product assortments and pricing strategies in the past, and how you can apply that knowledge to meet margin targets.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Since this position involves working closely with Buying, Design, and Supply Chain, think of specific instances where you've collaborated with different teams. Highlight your communication skills and ability to align diverse stakeholders towards common goals.
✨Be Data-Driven
With a focus on analytics, come prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform your decisions. Share examples of how you've monitored trading performance and adjusted strategies based on insights to optimise outcomes.