At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate branch merchandising for retail stores in the UK and France.
- Company: Join Fanatics Commerce, the global leader in licensed sports merchandise.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a bold team that values innovation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on fan experiences while building a new function from scratch.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising or space planning, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative mindset.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Description
Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide.
With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.
At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day—building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with limitless entrepreneurial spirit, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.
As we continue to scale our global platform, the
Branch Merchandiser will play a critical role in building and leading the branch merchandising function across Fanatics Commerce retail stores in the UK and France.
ROLE OVERVIEW
This is a newly created role that offers the opportunity to build the branch merchandising function from scratch, setting strategy and ownership structures across retail stores in the UK and France, with scope to expand across additional international locations.
The successful candidate will evolve and streamline the existing critical path — currently spread across multiple teams — into a cohesive approach to range planning, space planning, and allocation strategy, establishing clear processes across commercial functions.
The Branch Merchandiser delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.
HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT
Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.
- Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)
- Deliver an optimised, balanced range for retail that meets and exceeds sales and margin targets, ensuring fans in every store have access to the right product at the right time.
- Conduct regular store visits to gather market intelligence and competitor analysis, translating insights into actionable range and space recommendations that elevate the in-store fan experience.
- Partner with Heads of Retail and Area Managers to identify existing and new commercial opportunities that drive availability and satisfaction across all store grades.
- Feedback market intelligence and analysis to Buying & Merchandising teams to inform future ranging decisions and strengthen the end-to-end fan offer.
- Innovation & Problem Solving (Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit)
- Trial and propose new ideas to move the business forward, including evolving allocation and replenishment systems for greater efficiency and accuracy.
- Manage specific projects end-to-end — documenting and analysing information, formulating conclusions, and presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Potentialise sales and profit opportunities by store grade, using commercial analysis and data to unlock performance improvements across the estate.
- Develop and implement best practice distribution methods in partnership with merchandising and supply chain teams, optimising delivery frequency and stock flow.
- Ownership & Execution (Determined & Relentless Mindset)
- Set commercial initial allocations by category aligned with planned store turnover, space, and cover, and implement and manage the seasonal allocation and replenishment strategy by department and category.
- Analyse and review weekly, monthly, and seasonal trade by store and grade versus budget and prior year, proposing short, medium, and longer-term corrective actions with pace and precision.
- Manage store openings, modernisations, closures, and space changes in close collaboration with Buying & Merchandising teams to deliver successful launches on time and on brief.
- Oversee the smooth flow of stock across stores, maximising potential through initial allocation, re-assortments, and end-of-season stock removal to Outlet.
- Cross-Functional Leadership (Build Championship Teams)
- Build strong working relationships and collaborate cross-functionally with Retail, Buying & Merchandising, Logistics, and Finance teams to ensure alignment and delivery against commercial objectives.
- Partner with supply chain and logistics to forecast short-term retail dispatch and DC volumes, and to determine the best delivery day, method, and frequency for each store.
- Gain buy-in at Senior Management level through excellent communication and influencing skills, presenting data-backed strategies and recommendations with confidence and clarity.
- Define the ownership structure and clear processes across the commercial functions as the branch merchandising function is built out from the ground up.
- AI & DIGITAL CAPABILITY
We are building a future-ready organization. This role is expected to
- Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes
- Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance
- Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working
- Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
- CAPABILITIES & EXPERIENCE YOU BRING
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience in a fast-paced Branch Merchandising or Space Planning role, ideally within a multi-site High Street or omnichannel retail environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of store grading, range optimisation, space planning, and allocation and replenishment strategy.
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex trading data and translate it into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively at all levels, including gaining buy-in from Senior Management on strategic decisions.
- Experience managing store openings, closures, or estate changes in collaboration with buying, merchandising, and logistics functions.
- A collaborative, cross-functional working style with the ability to build effective relationships across retail, B&M, logistics, and finance teams.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and deliver to deadlines.
At Fanatics, we operate with a BOLD mindset—We Build Championship Teams, we're Obsessed with Fans, we embrace a Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, and we approach every challenge with a Determined & Relentless Mindset.
If you're ready to contribute to a dynamic, fast-paced environment that thrives on collaboration and growth, we want you to be part of our team.
Branch Merchandiser in Manchester employer: Fanatics
Fanatics is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly for the Remote Senior Software Engineer III role in Leeds. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through mentorship opportunities and a flexible work environment, Fanatics supports both personal and professional development while encouraging team collaboration. The company's commitment to high-performance solutions and cutting-edge technology makes it a rewarding place for engineers looking to make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Branch Merchandiser in Manchester
✨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 Fanatics, 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 Fanatics!
We think you need these skills to ace Branch Merchandiser in Manchester
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 Fanatics, 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 Fanatics 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 Fanatics that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fanatics
✨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!
