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- Tasks: Lead merchandise planning to maximise sales and protect profits across all channels.
- Company: Join Card Factory, the UK's top retailer for greeting cards and gifts with over 1000 stores.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work options, discounts, financial support, and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving growth in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Qualifications: Proven merchandising experience, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills required.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term role covering maternity leave.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Senior Merchandise Planning Manager to join the Commercial team at Card Factory to cover maternity leave on a 12-month fixed-term basis. In this exciting role, your work will be instrumental in helping to drive business objectives to maximize sales while protecting profit across Card Factory’s OMNI channels. Reporting to the Head of Merchandising, you will work closely with Buying and Design teams to plan and trade ranges, ensuring in-season activity delivers planned sales, margin, and stock targets. You will manage the planning and budgeting process, creating appropriate sales strategies and tactics to suit trading conditions. As a commercially and strategically minded professional, you will be able to inspire and motivate the team, enabling them to maximize their potential and achieve success through your coaching and development.
Role Responsibilities:
- Managing stock, critical path, deliveries, and markdown plans.
- Managing WSSI and adjusting to trading patterns to maximize full-price sales and minimize markdowns.
- Understanding and implementing the company strategy, developing departmental strategies with internal teams and peers.
- Maintaining a strong trading mentality with events, trading, and promotions to drive sales and meet targets.
- Leading weekly departmental trade meetings.
- Regularly reviewing risks and opportunities to increase sales and profit.
- Building business relationships through clear communication and strong collaboration.
- Collaborating with all functions, especially Retail, Warehouse, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Finance, to maximize profitability.
- Managing and mentoring junior colleagues.
The Ideal Candidate:
- This role will suit a leader with strong stakeholder management skills capable of managing relationships up to CCO level.
- Demonstrate commercial and financial awareness.
- Proven track record and recent comparable experience in a merchandising role, including multi-channel experience.
- Proven ability to deliver results both individually and as part of a team.
- Ability to challenge and work under pressure in a fast-moving retail environment.
- Robust commercial, analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
- Strong communication and networking skills with the confidence to influence and engage at all levels.
- Experience in developing high-performing teams and leading through ambiguity in a constantly changing environment.
About the Company:
Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greeting cards, dressings, and gifts, with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland. In 2020, we launched an exciting 5-year business strategy with a vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer. This strategy involves significant investment into our colleagues across the business, creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey.
In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial well-being:
- 25% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online
- Financial Wellbeing Support
- Financial Education Tools
- Salary Advance
- Seasonal incentive schemes
- Opportunity to apply for Retail Apprenticeships
- Access to blended learning and development content
- Discounts across hundreds of UK retailers
- Employee Assistance Programme – tools to support mental, physical, and financial well-being
This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role aligns with your career aspirations, click apply now. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications are received. We recommend applying early to avoid disappointment, as applications will be reviewed regularly.
Location: Century House, Brunel Road, Wakefield, 41 Industrial Estate, United Kingdom
Senior Merchandise Planning Manager employer: Card Factory
Contact Detail:
Card Factory Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Merchandise Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Card Factory's current product ranges and sales strategies. Understanding their merchandise planning process will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their goals during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the retail and merchandising sectors, especially those who have experience in omni-channel environments. This can provide you with insights into industry trends and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed stock and trading patterns in previous roles. Highlighting your analytical skills and ability to adapt to changing market conditions will set you apart.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership abilities by preparing to discuss how you've mentored or developed junior colleagues in the past. Emphasising your experience in building high-performing teams will resonate well with the hiring managers.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Merchandise Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising and planning. Focus on your achievements in previous roles, especially those that demonstrate your ability to drive sales and manage stock effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of Card Factory's business objectives. Mention specific examples of how your skills and experience align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Highlight Leadership Skills: Since the role involves managing and mentoring junior colleagues, emphasise your leadership experience. Provide examples of how you've successfully led teams and developed high-performing individuals in past roles.
Showcase Analytical Abilities: Demonstrate your commercial and analytical skills by including examples of how you've used data to inform decision-making in merchandising. This could include managing WSSI or adjusting trading patterns to maximise sales.
How to prepare for a job interview at Card Factory
✨Understand the Company Strategy
Before your interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of Card Factory's business strategy and how it aims to become a true Omni-channel retailer. This will help you demonstrate your alignment with their goals and show that you're proactive in understanding the company's direction.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in merchandising, particularly in multi-channel environments. Highlight specific examples where you've maximised sales and minimised markdowns, as this aligns directly with the role's responsibilities.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since the role involves managing and mentoring junior colleagues, be ready to share your experiences in leading teams. Discuss how you've inspired and motivated others, especially in challenging situations, to showcase your leadership capabilities.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Given the importance of stakeholder management in this role, think of examples where you've successfully managed relationships at various levels. Be ready to explain how you communicate effectively and influence decisions, particularly with senior stakeholders.
