At a Glance
- Tasks: Collaborate with the Merchandising Manager to curate inspiring product ranges and maximise sales.
- Company: Join B&Q, a leader in home improvement with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, 6.6 weeks holiday, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customers' homes while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in trading product ranges and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35500 - 45000 £ per year.
12 month FTC
£35,500 - £45,000 + Bonus + Pension + Private Health Care + ShareSave + 6.6 weeks holiday + Hybrid Working
Southampton, Store Support Office
We believe anyone can improve their home to make life better. From our Southampton Store Support office (SSO) we equip our stores, our people, and our whole business with everything it takes to help our millions of customers create a home they’ll love. Join us as an Assistant Merchandiser and you’ll be a big part of this.
At B&Q we have a hybrid approach to working to increase flexibility in when and where we work. For this role we are looking for someone to be able to work from our head office 3 days a week.
What's the job?
- Work with the Merchandising Manager to curate and deliver an inspirational range that meets the needs of our customers.
- Use insights and analysis to maximise sales and margin (£GM & GM%) opportunities and market share across all channels, improving sales and profit density and stock efficiency.
- Support the Merchandising Manager in creating a compelling range hierarchy, incorporating assortment, space, inventory and fulfilment principles.
- Review and monitor subcategory performance, with the buying team, through reporting and analytics.
- Support in managing and creating sales and budget forecasts and associated business cases.
- Work collaboratively with the Supply team to optimise availability, stock and sales.
- Own the Clean Stock process for clearance for the category.
- Create line level promotional and range change sales and stock forecasts for all channels.
- Manage the product lifecycle including range performance, identifying and optimising trading opportunities.
- Support the project management of small and medium range reviews.
- Use support tools such as Viva to share category information and respond to queries from stores.
- Conduct regular store (digital & physical), competitor and vendor visits.
- Manage and influence stakeholders across a range of levels, internally and externally.
- Undertake other duties from time to time as may be reasonably required.
What we need:
- Previous experience of trading product ranges across multiple sales channels.
- Numerical and analytical with strong attention to detail.
- Commercially focussed with the ability to understand financial insights.
- Knowledge and understanding of the home improvement market and product seasonality.
- Ability to understand customer insights and market trends.
- Strong communicator with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
- Intermediate Microsoft Office skills, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.
- Prior merchandising/ retail experience.
What's in it for me?
As well as a competitive salary, our benefits package includes an award-winning pension scheme, bonus, ShareSave options, 6.6 weeks holiday, payroll giving, an Employee Assistance Programme, shopping discounts, colleague wellbeing benefits and lots more!
As part of a great team, you’ll be supported to grow and encouraged to explore new career directions within the business and the wider group.
Assistant Merchandiser - Lighting in Eastleigh employer: B&Q Limited
At B&Q, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Located in Southampton, our Store Support Office provides a hybrid working model, allowing flexibility while ensuring you are part of a supportive team dedicated to helping customers enhance their homes. With a comprehensive benefits package, including generous holiday allowance, private healthcare, and opportunities for career growth, joining us as an Assistant Merchandiser means being part of a company that values your contributions and invests in your future.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Merchandiser - Lighting in Eastleigh
✨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 B&Q Limited, 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 B&Q Limited!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Merchandiser - Lighting in Eastleigh
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 B&Q Limited, 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 B&Q Limited 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 B&Q Limited that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at B&Q Limited
✨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!
