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.
