At a Glance
- Tasks: Optimise product assortments and drive profitability through data-driven decisions.
- Company: Join COS, a brand known for quality and timeless design.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25% staff discount, up to 25 days holiday, and gym membership discounts.
- Other info: Full-time role in London with extensive development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion retail while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning or merchandising within fashion retail is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
As an Assortment Planner, you are responsible for optimising the product mix and planning article assortments across regions to drive sustainable growth and maximise sell-through profitability. Working closely with the Senior Buyer and Senior Business Controller, you develop customer-focused assortments, manage global and regional article ranking, and ensure alignment across all planning activities. Through strong collaboration and data-driven decision-making, you help create the best commercial offer for our target customer while supporting overall business performance and profitability.
What you will do:
- Develop and optimise regional assortments and article rankings, ensuring a balanced product mix that meets customer needs, drives growth and maximises profitability.
- Monitor sales performance, customer insights and market trends to identify opportunities and risks, taking proactive actions to improve sell-through and business results.
- Support the delivery of the global assortment strategy by planning article quantities, stock levels and seasonal product flows, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and budgets.
- Partner closely with Buyers, Business Controllers, Merchandising, Marketing and regional teams to align priorities, optimise customer offers and ensure successful execution of plans.
- Guide and support junior team members while driving a collaborative, people-focused environment.
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve processes, ways of working and business performance in line with departmental objectives.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience in a similar Planning, Buying or Merchandising role within fashion retail, with a good understanding of omnichannel dynamics.
- Strong proficiency in planning and assortment quantification software.
- Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret product mix, price points, sales performance and regional differences to build balanced and profitable assortments.
- Confidence using customer insights, market trends and commercial data to make informed decisions.
- A genuine interest in COS and a strong understanding of how to deliver a relevant and compelling customer offer.
Delivery & Execution:
- Ability to produce high-quality, accurate work, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines. You should also be able to demonstrate resilience under pressure.
Communication:
- Able to communicate clearly in writing and verbally, you should be able to explain technical or complex points simply and keep stakeholders informed and updated.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:
- Build effective partnerships across Buying, Merchandising, Finance, Marketing and regional teams, influencing decisions and aligning priorities to achieve shared goals. You should also be open-minded and accept feedback professionally.
Adaptable & Curious:
- You should be able to adjust to changing priorities, learn new tools and processes quickly and show curiosity and self-development.
Additional Information:
- This is a full-time permanent role based at our Head Office in London, 5 days per week.
- We offer all our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe.
- All our employees receive a 25% staff discount usable on all our H&M Group brands in stores and online.
- In addition to our staff discount, all our employees are included in our H&M Incentive Program – HIP.
- UK based colleagues also receive up to 25 days holiday, discounts on various activities and financial/lifestyle products via our benefits hub, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership, and employee assistance via retail trust.
Inclusion & Diversity:
At COS we’re determined to create and maintain inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces throughout our organisation. Our teams should consist of a variety of people that share and combine their knowledge, experience and ideas. Having a diverse workforce leads to a positive impact on how we address challenges, on what we perceive possible and on how we choose to relate to our colleagues and customers all over the world. Hence all diversity dimensions are taken into consideration in our recruitment process.
Company Description:
COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The creative soul of the brand is fuelled by a deep connection to modern culture, dynamic global cities and compelling fashion movements. With an emphasis on expert craftsmanship, innovation and materiality, collections are created with a mindful approach, seamlessly blending contemporary and timeless.
To ensure we provide an insightful experience to our candidates, and we support their understanding of the role scope and responsibilities for this role, we use an online assessment method for skills-based recruitment with our recruitment processes. You will need to complete it as part of the application and screening process. Your responses will be scored by an assessment tool that applies predefined criteria set by H&M Group. After completing the assessment, you will receive feedback with the score you obtained. If you experience any difficulties or prefer an alternative assessment method, please contact us. Choosing an alternative will not impact your application. For more information on how we process your personal data, please see our Privacy Notice.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Assortment Planner - Menswear United Kingdom London employer: COS
COS is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in our vibrant London Head Office. As a Knitwear Buyer, you will not only have the opportunity to lead exciting product development but also benefit from continuous professional growth and mentorship within a supportive team environment. With a focus on creativity and commercial success, COS offers a unique platform for you to thrive in the fashion industry while enjoying a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assortment Planner - Menswear United Kingdom London
✨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 COS, 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 COS!
We think you need these skills to ace Assortment Planner - Menswear United Kingdom London
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 COS, 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 COS 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 COS that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at COS
✨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!
