Are you an Allocator or Assistant Merchandiser ready for your next step? Join Dobbies’ Buying & Merchandising team as a Junior Merchandiser and take ownership of a Seasonal Ranges department. You’ll plan stock, drive sales & margin, and role model for a team of Allocators; all from our dog-friendly Central Support Office in Lasswade, with hybrid working.
About the role
You’ll be responsible for maximising sales and profit for a designated department through effective planning and trading. Working closely with the Buyer; you’ll plan ranges, manage stock & orders, and hit sales, stock & margin targets. You’ll also manage and develop the Allocators, making sure best-practice processes are in place.
What you’ll do
- Help deliver divisional KPIs: sales, stock, intake margin, markdown and net margin
- Prepare business plans, including scopes and range reviews
- Plan ranges with the Buyer, using historical data, future trends and seasonal variations
- Analyse sales, trends and performance to spot opportunities and reduce risk
- Make sure orders are placed on time and are sufficient to meet sales targets
- Plan promotions and volume deals when needed
- Manage reforecasting of the Weekly Sales, Stock and Intake (WSSI) plan and Open-to-Buy (OTB), keeping them aligned with stock requirements
- Maintain the buying calendar and critical path with the team
- Build strong relationships with suppliers so issues are resolved quickly
- Visit stores regularly to understand customers and support store teams
- Work with Space Planning to make sure planograms and replenishment parameters are set up and launched on time
What success looks like
- The right amount of stock is bought to optimise sales
- Stores have the right stock levels on the shop floor and in the stockroom
- Store teams are kept informed and can deliver their KPIs
- Your team’s workload is well organised and supports the wider strategy
- Colleagues value working with you
What you’ll bring
- Experience in retail merchandising, allocation or stock planning
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups) and confidence with Word and PowerPoint
- Strong numeracy with commercial and financial awareness
- Understanding of domestic and global supply chain processes
- Excellent organisation, planning and attention to detail
- Confidence managing several priorities against tight deadlines
- Good negotiation, presentation and problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across the business
- Experience supervising or coaching others is a plus
Our values
We’re one team, getting better every day. We bring a smile. We live and breathe gardens. We make it work for our customers.
What we offer
- 33 days’ annual leave (pro rata for part time)
- Hybrid working: a mix of office and home working
- Generous uncapped discount: 50% off in our restaurants, 25% in the garden centre and 10% in our food halls
- Enhanced company pension
- Learning and development: Dobbies Academy plus funded study and qualifications
- Financial wellbeing: Stream app for early access to earned pay, savings and advice
- Wellbeing support: Retail Trust, including a virtual GP, free counselling and retail discounts
- Interest-free season ticket loans and a cycle to work scheme
- Life assurance and eye care
- A great place to work: dog-friendly office, wellbeing room, free tea and coffee, annual conference, plus summer and Christmas socials
About Us
At Dobbies, we’re proud to have a history dating back to 1865. We were founded by James Dobbie and are the only garden centre retailer to have stores in every nation across the UK.
Our passion and joy for gardens and plants is what makes us special. In our stores, we showcase this through own brand and branded products, concession partners and services. We champion garden living all-year-round.
Many of our stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, where customers can enjoy refreshments or meals in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
We offer a calendar of events and experiences that bring people and communities together, and we have a national charity partner that both our colleagues and customers raise money for,
We’re committed to being a great place to work. We’re one team and we encourage our colleagues to be the best version of themselves, every day; to share their wins and celebrate success. Together, we make it work for our customers.
About us
At Dobbies, we’re proud to have a history dating back to 1865. We were founded by James Dobbie and are the only garden centre retailer to have stores in every nation across the UK.
Our passion and joy for gardens and plants is what makes us special. In our stores, we showcase this through own brand and branded products, concession partners and services. We champion garden living all-year-round.
Many of our stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, where customers can enjoy refreshments or meals in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
We offer a calendar of events and experiences that bring people and communities together, and we have a national charity partner that both our colleagues and customers raise money for,
We’re committed to being a great place to work. We’re one team and we encourage our colleagues to be the best version of themselves, every day; to share their wins and celebrate success. Together, we make it work for our customers.
Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Range in Edinburgh employer: Dobbies Central Support Office
Dobbies is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and personal growth within the Gardening team. With generous benefits such as 33 annual leave days, hybrid working options, and access to professional development through Dobbies Academy, employees are empowered to thrive in their roles while enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance. Located in Lasswade, our Central Support Office provides a supportive environment where passion for gardening and retail excellence come together, making it a rewarding place to build a career.
Contact Details:
Dobbies Central Support Office Recruitment Team
