At a Glance
- Tasks: Curate and develop exciting product assortments while building strong supplier relationships.
- Company: Join BDA, a dynamic company with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
- Benefits: Flexible work schedule, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant environment with a commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
- Why this job: Make an impact by shaping product strategies that resonate with customers and drive sales.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years in retail buying or merchandising; strong analytical and communication skills.
Job Summary
As a Merchandiser at BDA, you will be responsible for independently developing, sourcing, and curating compelling and profitable product assortments for our clients while negotiating and developing strategic supplier relationships. The Merchandiser must earn the trust of internal and external customers by building assortment strategies that deliver creative and profitable products that represent the clients’ brands and speak to the end customer.
Location
This role is based in Manchester or London, UK and offers a flexible onsite schedule of 4 days per week, with 1 day remote. To be considered, you must live within commuting distance, as regular in‑person collaboration is a key part of the role.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Define seasonal product strategies that identify future opportunities and trends
- Take current trends and translate them into creative products
- Assess the impact of decoration methods on product appearance, functionality, quality, and commercial viability
- Adapt designs to meet the preferences and needs of different regions and customer groups based on market trends
- Negotiate, build and source strategic and profitable product assortments
- Drive sales through the selection of product, pricing and return on investment
- Use current and historical data to evaluate what is working effectively and create actionable insights that inform line architecture
- Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking and apply it to the business
- Understand assigned clients’ brands and identify products that represent and target their end customer
- Run weekly merchandise status calls with clients and internal WIP meetings
- Ensure successful product line presentations to clients; use data and influencing skills to gain partnership from internal partners and clients on assortment strategies to ensure profitability
- Share assortment productivity with accounts and internal partners
- Confidently articulate and sell a concept to a business team
- Oversee day‑to‑day activities for product launches and refreshes
- Manage areas including compliance, quality, and operational metrics (e.g., compliance, alliance partners, product margin)
- Negotiate buying terms with suppliers (price, quantity, quality, delivery, etc.)
- Oversee execution of assortment launch
- Build/update product status smartsheet for tracking – internal/external views
- Create SKUs for online stores and prepare product images
- Assort styles and silhouettes based on past selling history, sales goals, and season
- Select color standards within seasonal color stories
- Request graphic development and review with design team
- Review tech packs for accuracy with design team
- Review lab dips with designer
- Determine cost targets, MSRP and quantities based on past SKU similarities
- Send development samples or lab dips to client
- Review TOP samples for accuracy, send to client and add to sample library
Job Skills and Traits
- Experience initiating, recommending, and implementing merchandise strategies
- Strong understanding of and ability to apply market intelligence
- Understanding of retail and the service environment
- Experience analyzing, interpreting, and applying consumer data
- Track record of building profitable assortment plans
- Skill at cross‑functional influence
- Experience working with accounts or retail stores to deliver profitable and relevant assortments
- Communicates effectively with cross‑divisional leadership
- Consensus‑building skills – ability to persuade co‑workers of the benefits of positive changes
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of work and experience
- Minimum 3–5 years of retail buying, product development, merchandising and/or planning experience
- Fluency in MS Office suite including Excel, Word, PowerPoint
- Oracle experience a plus
- Experience working with UK and European suppliers is a plus
- Proficiency in French, German, or another European language would be a plus
Base Salary Range
We are pleased to share the base salary range for this position is £30,000 to £36,000. If you are hired at BDA, your compensation will be determined by factors such as skills, education, and experience, while also taking internal equity and pay fairness into account. In the spirit of transparency, the range listed represents the full base salary range for the role, with starting salaries typically set within this range to allow room for growth over time.
Equal Opportunity Employer
BDA Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Merchandiser in Salford employer: BDA, LLC
BDA, LLC is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development within a dynamic work culture. With competitive compensation starting at £83,000 plus bonuses, employees benefit from strategic partnerships across EMEA, fostering collaboration and innovation. The company's commitment to aligning HR practices with business needs ensures a meaningful impact on the organisation while providing opportunities for travel and professional advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser in Salford
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like BDA, LLC, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like BDA, LLC!
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at BDA, LLC, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at BDA, LLC and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show BDA, LLC that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at BDA, LLC
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
