At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the team in merchandising, stock analysis, and product range management.
- Company: Dunelm, the UK's number one choice for homewares.
- Benefits: Training, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Join a lively team where creativity and passion for home are celebrated.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on home life while developing your merchandising skills.
- Qualifications: Previous merchandising experience and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.
Home. There’s no place like it. And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We’re the UK’s number one choice for homewares because we make home life lovelier for our customers. And we’ve crafted a workplace that feels just as welcoming – where you can bring your ideas, be yourself, and feel right at home.
With us, buying isn’t about chasing bargains and merchandising isn’t about pushing an endless parade of promotions. We do things differently. With us, it’s about creativity, instinct, and a real passion for home. We’re experts at understanding trends and performance, making quick decisions that keep our products and layouts perfectly timed, perfectly designed and perfectly marketed. Get stuck in from day one, and you’ll make a real difference. You’ll learn as you go, grow in confidence, and start taking small steps towards owning your own ranges. It’s lively, rewarding, and full of opportunities to learn and shine.
At Dunelm, we want you to feel right at home happy, supported, and excited about where your career can go. From your very first day, we’ll make sure you have the training, tools and guidance you need to settle in and start growing. And the support doesn’t stop there, we’ll be with you every step of the way as you progress. This role is a second step on merchandising career path. From here, you could step up into a Merchandiser position, with access to brilliant, tailored courses and sessions to help you keep developing your skills. We believe in helping you become the best version of yourself and making the journey enjoyable along the way.
What you'll be doing
- Build Strong Relationships: You'll work cross-functionally within your category, driving performance and staying ahead of the game for upcoming launches and events.
- Support the Team: Help with sales and stock analysis, presenting your findings in a clear, simple, and engaging way to aid in creating our product range.
- Know Your Stuff: Get to know our product range inside out, ensuring all orders are accurate and on time. Manage line cards to reflect changes in sales patterns and adapt stock accordingly.
- Optimise Stock Flow: Ensure pack sizes and shelf fills meet the sales plan, maintaining efficient stock flow to stores and online within target cover parameters.
- Manage Allocations: Keep stock allocations on track to hit launch deadlines and maintain strong availability.
- Critical Path Management: Oversee the critical path for your department, ensuring products arrive on time and are allocated to the correct stores for launch.
- Supplier Relationships: Build a good rapport with suppliers, leading meetings and negotiating volumes, pack sizes, and shipment plans.
- Collaborate with Visual Merchandising: Work with the Visual Merchandising team to ensure planograms, grading, and fill levels are spot on.
- Understand Stock KPIs: Identify risks and trading opportunities to maintain cover targets, and take action on slow sellers.
- Maintain Availability: Assist the Merchandising team in planning department line-cards, maintain strong relationships with suppliers, and prepare weekly stock summary reports with actions to improve and maintain availability.
- Achieve Targets: Ensure strong in-store and online availability, keeping stock levels within company targets and ensuring accurate store allocations.
What we'll look for in you
- Proven merchandising experience. This role is the next step in our merchandising hierarchy, requiring previous experience as a commercial merchandise assistant, merchandiser administrator, or any other relevant merchandising experience.
- You’re naturally organised and love a good plan (bonus points if colour‑coded spreadsheets make you happy).
- You’re calm under pressure and can juggle a few spinning plates without breaking a sweat or at least without dropping the important ones.
- You’re a clear communicator who knows how to keep everyone in the loop, whether it’s a quick update or chasing a deadline (nicely, of course).
- You’re not afraid to ask questions, challenge a delay, or speak up if something doesn’t look quite right.
- You’ve got a good eye for detail, but you also know when to zoom out and see the bigger picture.
- You’re a team player, someone who’s kind, reliable, and up for jumping in when things get busy.
Junior Merchandiser- Furniture in Leicester employer: Dunelm
At Dunelm, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture where creativity and passion for home are at the forefront. As a Junior Merchandiser in our dynamic team, you'll enjoy comprehensive training and support to help you grow your career, with clear pathways to advancement and opportunities to make a tangible impact from day one. Located in the heart of the UK, we offer a welcoming environment that encourages collaboration and innovation, ensuring you feel right at home while developing your skills and expertise.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Merchandiser- Furniture in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for homewares! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, share your ideas about trends and products. Let them see your enthusiasm for creating a lovely home experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research Dunelm’s product range and think about how you can contribute to their mission. Being knowledgeable will help you stand out and show that you're ready to jump in from day one.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Dunelm family and making a difference in the merchandising world.
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Merchandiser- Furniture in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Home:When writing your application, let your love for homewares shine through! Share any personal experiences or projects that reflect your passion for creating a lovely home environment. We want to see how you connect with our mission at Dunelm.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your previous merchandising experience and how it relates to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your skills!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Junior Merchandiser role. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in joining our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy and straightforward – just like we like it!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dunelm
✨Know Your Product Range
Before the interview, dive deep into Dunelm's product offerings, especially in furniture. Familiarise yourself with their latest collections and any unique selling points. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you discuss how you can contribute to their merchandising strategy.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Since the role requires strong organisational abilities, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed multiple tasks or projects in the past. Bring along a colour-coded spreadsheet or a similar tool you've used to demonstrate your planning skills – it’ll impress them!
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. During the interview, be ready to explain your previous experiences in merchandising and how they relate to the role. Remember, being a clear communicator is key, so don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if needed.
✨Build Rapport with Interviewers
Establishing a good connection with your interviewers can set you apart. Be friendly, engage in small talk, and show genuine interest in their roles at Dunelm. This will reflect your team player attitude and your ability to build relationships, which is crucial for this position.