Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Department in Leicester

Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Department in Leicester

Leicester Full-Time 22050 - 26950 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Dunelm

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support the team in merchandising, stock analysis, and product range management.
  • Company: Join Dunelm, the UK's top choice for homewares, in a welcoming workplace.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a supportive environment, training, and a fully funded Level 4 apprenticeship.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career progression and personal development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in home merchandising while growing your skills and confidence.
  • Qualifications: Previous merchandising experience and strong organisational skills are essential.

The predicted salary is between 22050 - 26950 £ per year.

Overview

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.

  • Hit 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

Essential skills

  • 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.

If that’s ticking your boxes, we’d love to have you on board!

Colleagues can grow their skills (and their confidence) by taking on a fully funded Level 4 apprenticeship—because we’re all about cheering you on as you build your career.

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Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Department in Leicester employer: Dunelm

As a Visual Merchandiser with us, you'll thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment that values creativity and teamwork. We offer competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and opportunities for professional growth, ensuring you can develop your skills while contributing to an inspiring shopping experience for our customers. Join us in a location that prioritises a customer-first approach, where your attention to detail will shine and make a real impact on store performance.

Dunelm

Contact Details:

Dunelm Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Department in Leicester

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 Dunelm, 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 Dunelm!

We think you need these skills to ace Junior Merchandiser - Seasonal Department in Leicester

Merchandising Experience
Sales Analysis
Stock Management
Critical Path Management
Supplier Relationship Management
Communication Skills
Organisational Skills

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 Dunelm, 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 Dunelm 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 Dunelm that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!

How to prepare for a job interview at Dunelm

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!