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- Tasks: Lead the merchandising team to maximise sales and profitability through product range development.
- Company: Bensons for Beds is a leading retailer in the bed and mattress industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy employee discounts, health cashback options, pension schemes, and career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team where your insights shape product offerings and drive market success.
- Qualifications: Strong organisational skills, merchandising experience, and proficiency in Google Analytics required.
- Other info: This role is based in Huntingdon, UK, with a focus on innovative product features.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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Client:
Bensons for Beds
Location:
Huntingdon, United Kingdom
Job Category:
Other
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EU work permit required:
Yes
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Job Reference:
bd63098c168c
Job Views:
4
Posted:
12.08.2025
Expiry Date:
26.09.2025
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Job Description:
Bensons for Beds is looking for a new Merchandising Planning Manager to join our team based in Accrington.
You will support and develop the merchandising team to ensure that commercial product ranges are developed and purchased in order to maximise sales and profitability. To ensure the flow of products and supply line to stores and online through using marketplace data and consumer insights to determine product ranges for market.
Who do we want?
- Strong organisational and leadership skills
- Experience of working in a similar role in Merchandising
- Previous experience of managing margins
- Experience in forecasting and budgeting
- Experience of formulating and delivering a detailed plan for taking products from purchase to shop floor
- Strong numerical and analytical skills
- Excellent influencing skills
- Commercial awareness of the retail trade
- Experienced in using Google Analytics to analysis with ability to generate actionable insight.
So, what will you do?
- Prepare and create standard reporting suites and ad hoc analysis on sales drivers and margin impacts to support trading decisions
- Lead the merchandisers to build annual budget and re-forecasts at category level for sales, margin and volume ensuring they remain in line with company level targets
- Manage a team of merchandisers to plan new product ranges, range exits and promotional lines.
- Prepare and present product range plans, ensuring they are on brand and within operational and financial parameters.
- Ensure that supplier rebates are tracked and logged correctly and passed on to the finance team
- Understand changes in the market and be creative and innovative in bringing new product features into the business.
- Assess and evaluate suppliers agreeing key SLA’s.
- Monitor product and range performance against sales, margin, stock and availability targets making recommendations and generating analysis to support buying decisions.
- Ensure that range forecasting in accordance with agreed parameters.
- Work collaboratively with the Buying team developing commercial ranges, establishing stock intake plans and setting core KPI’s.
- Lead a team of merchandisers to maintain effective control of DC and store stock levels, providing accurate forecasting of markdown spend and end of line stock forecasts.
- Ensure the team identify and action markdown and clearance requirements to ensure clear down of end of range lines.
- Create and effectively manage the price book, related systems and documentation for all trading events
- Work with the supply chain team on product and range forecasts to ensure on time delivery from supply base and stock range plans are kept within targeted levels.
- Oversee timely delivery of stock to stores to meet launch and promotional timelines
- Highlight required actions to meet future sales estimates to the supply chain team.
- Work with the marketing manager to ensure that marketing messages have customer appeal and reflect the strength of the promotional offer
- Liaise with the Marketing department to ensure that all point of sale, price tickets and promotional material is correct and supports the merchandise strategy.
What will you get?
Along with a competitive salary, we host a catalogue of benefits! These include:
- *Employee discount scheme for Bensons products
- *Medicash – cashback options for Health and Wellbeing services (dental, optical, virtual GP, other healthcare services and more)
- Unum Income Protection – for peace of mind if you’re off work long term due to illness
- *Pension scheme – provided by Legal & General
- *Discounted Gym membership
- *Cycle to Work scheme
- Annual leave buy & sell scheme – you can top up your holiday entitlement or sell unused days to suit you
- *Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
- Access to Retail Trust services (guidance and support on retail issues, mental health, wellbeing & financial topics)
- Learning and development programmes to gain new knowledge and skills
- Career progression – access to internal opportunities to build your career within Bensons for Beds
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Merchandising Planning Manager employer: Bensons For Beds
Contact Detail:
Bensons For Beds Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandising Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in merchandising and retail analytics. Understanding current market dynamics will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to Bensons for Beds' success during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the merchandising field, especially those who have experience in the retail sector. Engaging with industry peers can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals that could enhance your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed product ranges and improved sales margins in previous roles. Being able to share concrete achievements will demonstrate your capability and fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Bensons for Beds' product offerings and recent marketing campaigns. Showing that you understand their brand and can align your merchandising strategies with their goals will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandising Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising and planning. Focus on your leadership skills, numerical abilities, and any specific achievements that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the role and the company. Mention your experience with forecasting, budgeting, and managing product ranges, and explain how you can contribute to Bensons for Beds.
Showcase Analytical Skills: In your application, emphasise your experience with data analysis tools like Google Analytics. Provide examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles.
Highlight Team Leadership Experience: Since the role involves managing a team, be sure to include examples of your leadership experience. Discuss how you've successfully led teams in the past and the impact it had on achieving business goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bensons For Beds
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Merchandising Planning Manager, strong numerical and analytical skills are crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've used data analysis in previous roles to drive sales and profitability.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in managing teams and leading projects. Share instances where you successfully guided a team through challenges or implemented new strategies that improved performance.
✨Understand the Market Trends
Research current trends in the retail industry, especially in merchandising. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Bensons for Beds and suggest innovative ideas for product features or ranges.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Prepare for scenarios related to stock management, supplier negotiations, or budget forecasting, and think through how you would approach these situations.
