At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and optimise stock for our homewares department while collaborating with a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Dunelm, the UK's number one choice for homewares, in a caring and innovative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, career growth, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant team focused on innovation and sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customers' home lives while developing your skills in a fast-paced setting.
- Qualifications: Passion for homewares, strategic thinking, and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ 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. The caring and encouraging culture we've created makes this a place you'll feel right at home too. We are the UK’s Number One homewares retailer offering over 100,000 products building a consumer-focused total retail business that delights customers through our multichannel operation. We are determined in our plans to increase further expansion of the business to more customers, shopping more frequently, with more choice, enhanced digital and physical services, and new capabilities to innovate and operate at pace in a fast-changing landscape.
The Commercial team are responsible for sourcing, developing and selling products that represent fantastic value for money, offer great quality, are innovative and sustainable. The commercial team are also responsible for trading ranges to optimise sales and profit and for developing strong relationships with our suppliers. You will be joining a talented team of Buyers, Merchandisers and Designers. The team environment is fast-paced and energetic. We are positive, ambitious, forward-looking and data driven. We have to take calculated risks, to keep growing market share. Our focus is to drive sales and profit for Dunelm through sourcing the best quality products, at the best prices, from sustainable and ethical sources. You will be a key member of the Commercial Team, accountable for executing the trading strategy for your product department.
As a Senior Merchandiser, you will be accountable for ensuring great availability to maximise sales whilst delivering the stock and trading strategy within the department. You will have sound commercial acumen, and excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills. You will know what and how to pull the levers to maximise sales and profit and I’m quick to react to issues and opportunities. You will work collaboratively with colleagues in the category and together will constantly evolve the plans to achieve the biggest impact and growth in the short/medium term.
Other Responsibilities As a Senior Merchandiser Will Include:
- Confidently create, present, and deliver the departmental strategy and sign off alongside the buying team.
- Identify key insights and actions to improve performance and customer experience.
- Prepare markdown proposals and communicate the impact of the category going forward.
- Help shape the sales and margin budget for the financial year and contribute to the commercial review meetings balancing opportunities and risk.
- Drive and implement actions using the stock tool to ensure the stock budget is met and sales are maximised providing updates on these actions for the monthly stock budget reviews.
- Manage the critical path working cross-functionally within the category team to ensure on-time launch.
- Provide historical data to help propose a new range direction.
- Support decisions on product mix, option planning, price architecture and churn with the Buyer.
- Rank and grade products with the Buyer to ensure we are making the best use of the graded space available.
- Propose an exit plan for all end-of-season (EOS) lines to ensure maximum profit and recommend the best deal on supplier stock and pricing to the buying team.
- Ensure the web is used as a platform for trialling new ranges and the web is the first and last in stock.
- Lead weekly departmental trade with my Buying counterpart to agree on what levers can be pulled to maximise sales and profit.
- Conduct post-implementation reviews (PIR) with the Buying team and implement actions to maximise best sellers and reduce risk in under-performers.
- Sign off purchase orders within my threshold, balancing stock/availability and warehouse capacity.
- Attend overseas trips to build relationships, negotiate with the supply base and find new routes.
- Ensure POs are managed on the system, so they accurately reflect the intake plan.
- Manage DTS suppliers to ensure their forward stock pipeline is healthy.
- Check presentation levels are set appropriately against ROS, pack size and space.
What we’ll look for in you:
- A real passion for homewares and the energy to constantly innovate and drive the range forward.
- Strategic thinking. Ability to identify opportunities and risks, and create effective plans to achieve your department goals.
- A thorough understanding of critical path and supply chain management.
- Advanced planning and analytical skills, including Excel.
- First-rate time management and prioritisation skills, and understand business impact on my prioritisation.
- Use your network effectively to build strong relationships with the colleagues in the category and the wider team.
- Take ownership and have resilience to continue to drive for results.
- Confident to challenge.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Constantly looking for ways to improve my category and myself.
- Proactively problem solve to anticipate potential issues and implement solutions before they escalate.
- A self starter who sets ambitious goals for themselves and their team.
- Confidence in working with data and insights to enable data-driven decision making.
- Able to spot opportunities and provide solutions at pace.
- Role model key leadership and Dunelm values and encourage others to do so.
Senior Merchandiser in Leicester employer: Dunelm
At Dunelm, we pride ourselves on being the UK's number one homewares retailer, fostering a caring and encouraging culture that makes every employee feel at home. Our fast-paced and energetic environment offers exceptional growth opportunities, allowing you to innovate and drive results while collaborating with a talented team. With a strong focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing, you'll be part of a company that not only values your contributions but also invests in your professional development and the long-term satisfaction of our customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Merchandiser in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with Dunelm employees on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that you didn’t even know existed.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Dunelm’s values and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for homewares and how you can contribute to our mission of making home life lovelier.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your experience and how it aligns with the Senior Merchandiser role. We want to hear about your strategic thinking and how you’ve driven sales in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining the Dunelm family.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Merchandiser in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Homewares:When you're writing your application, let your love for homewares shine through! Share specific examples of how you've engaged with the industry or products that inspire you. We want to see that energy and enthusiasm!
Be Strategic and Data-Driven:As a Senior Merchandiser, you'll need to think strategically. In your application, highlight your analytical skills and how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Show us how you can spot opportunities and risks!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the role. Use keywords from the job description and relate your experience directly to the responsibilities listed. This shows us that you understand what we're looking for and how you can contribute.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get all the updates. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dunelm
✨Know Your Homewares
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in homewares. Familiarise yourself with Dunelm's product range and think about how you can contribute to their mission of making home life lovelier. Being able to discuss specific products and how they fit into the market will show your passion and knowledge.
✨Master the Numbers
As a Senior Merchandiser, you'll need to demonstrate strong analytical skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive sales and make decisions in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've managed stock levels or improved performance through data-driven insights.
✨Show Your Strategic Thinking
Dunelm is looking for someone who can identify opportunities and risks. Think about past experiences where you've had to create effective plans to achieve goals. Be ready to share these examples and explain your thought process during the interview.
✨Build Relationships
Collaboration is key in this role. Prepare to talk about how you've built strong relationships with colleagues and suppliers in the past. Highlight any successful negotiations or partnerships that have led to positive outcomes, as this will showcase your ability to work within a team.
