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- Tasks: Lead merchandise planning and strategy for your own categories, driving profit and performance.
- Company: Join cardfactory, a dynamic retail company focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy smart working options with a mix of remote work and time at our Wakefield support centre.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative team, develop your skills, and make a real impact in retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising and team management is essential; thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor an Assistant Merchandiser and grow within the company.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This is a great opportunity for an experienced Merchandise Planning Manager to join the Commercial team at cardfactory.
Working with the Senior Merchandise Planning Manager you will set out budgets & strategies for your own categories that deliver profit in line with our company strategy.
You will be responsible for the development of an Assistant Merchandiser.
You will need to be able to think on your feet and make quick, informed decisions.
As well as strong merchandising skills, you will show a real desire to learn and grow, as well as a curiosity and ownership for the success of your category.
We operate smart working principles at cardfactory, combining some days working from our support centre in Wakefield (approx. 1-2 days a week onsite) with some days working remotely from home.
Main Responsibilities
- Implement a customer driven range strategy aligned with the overall commercial strategy & critical path ensuring optimal return on space
- Conduct periodic reviews of category & product performance, understanding how this may impact future performance and reflect risks and opportunities
- Lead the weekly trade reviews and post-implementation reviews, collaborating with cross functional teams ensuring that they are clear on priority actions and lessons learnt
- You’ll be responsible for your category stock: WSSI planning, OTB management process, purchase orders, promotional stock planning, markdown plan, clearance, total DC & store stock levels, replenishment & ordering parameters to deliver depot/supplier service targets, manage tolerance on stock commitments, availability, & reviewing forecasts
- Collaborate with key stakeholders on cross-functional activity (e.g. flexible space) and provide insight and measurement to support
- Plan and prioritise inbound and outbound stock flow for your range/category, understanding the impact on supply, logistics and retail teams and communicating issues where appropriate
The Ideal Candidate
- Merchandising experience required preferably within a Non-food multi-channel retail environment
- Direct line management experience in coaching and developing junior members of the team
- Ability to deliver results to target, as an individual and within a team
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast-moving dynamic retail environment
- Confidence to influence and engage, building relationships with key stakeholders
- Organised with strong planning capabilities
Location Century House Brunel Road Wakefield 41 Industrial Estate, United Kingdom #J-18808-Ljbffr
Merchandise Planning Manager employer: Card Factory
Contact Detail:
Card Factory Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandise Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in merchandise planning and retail strategies. Understanding current market dynamics will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to the company's goals during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and merchandising industry. Attend relevant events or join online forums to connect with others who can provide insights or even refer you to opportunities at cardfactory.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing stock levels and your approach to WSSI planning. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated challenges in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by highlighting any experience you have in coaching or developing team members. This is crucial for the role, so be prepared to discuss how you've helped others grow in their careers.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandise Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant merchandising experience, particularly in non-food multi-channel retail. Emphasise your ability to manage stock levels, conduct performance reviews, and lead teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully implemented range strategies or managed teams in the past.
Showcase Your Decision-Making Skills: Provide examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to make quick, informed decisions under pressure. This could include situations where you had to adapt strategies based on performance reviews.
Highlight Your Collaborative Experience: Mention any experience you have working with cross-functional teams. Discuss how you've collaborated with stakeholders to achieve common goals, especially in relation to stock flow and category management.
How to prepare for a job interview at Card Factory
✨Showcase Your Merchandising Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your previous merchandising experience in detail. Highlight specific examples where you successfully implemented strategies that aligned with company goals, and be ready to explain how you measured their success.
✨Demonstrate Quick Decision-Making Skills
Since the role requires making quick, informed decisions, think of scenarios from your past where you had to act swiftly under pressure. Share these experiences during the interview to illustrate your ability to think on your feet.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership and Development
As you'll be responsible for developing an Assistant Merchandiser, discuss your direct line management experience. Provide examples of how you've coached and developed junior team members, showcasing your leadership style and commitment to team growth.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
The role involves working closely with various teams. Be ready to talk about your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, and how you ensured clear communication and prioritised actions in past projects.
