At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead merchandising and demand planning for key retail accounts, driving informed decision-making.
- Company: Dynamic retail company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 26 days holiday, health cashback, pension, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in retail while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team with opportunities for growth and a positive work/life balance.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a key member of the team, you'll be responsible for delivering end-to-end merchandising and demand planning excellence across Everyday, Seasons, GP and Gifting. Working closely with the Head of Merchandising and wider partners, you'll maintain, develop and support demand and planning activity across formats and product areas. You'll play a vital role in ensuring teams have the right insight at the right time to enable confident, informed decision-making across product, supply and commercial planning.
Your Responsibilities
- Deliver planning and forecasting for a portfolio of key retail accounts.
- Evaluate internal and external factors to build assumptions and scenario plans that underpin effective decision-making.
- Analyse performance through ongoing WSSI management, trading insights and budget alignment.
- Build and manage forward demand plans across short-, medium- and long-term horizons, supporting sales opportunities while minimising risk.
- Input into Category Reviews, Strategy Sessions and Range Builds with recommendations informed by strong commercial and product analysis.
- Provide clarity on performance trends, variances and key drivers to the wider Commercial team and senior stakeholders.
- Partner with Account Managers on range adjustments, distribution planning and launch timings.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships to ensure activity is delivered in the most effective way for the business and the customer.
- Support the development and delivery of customer Joint Business Plans.
- Contribute to wider business initiatives focused on improving processes, efficiency and ways of working.
Your Accountabilities
- Support the creation, reporting and delivery of category and customer plans.
- Provide trading insights that inform future seasonal development and commercial decision-making.
- Influence customer strategies as a merchandising and demand specialist.
- Manage and develop a Retail Merchandiser and Assistant Merchandiser to ensure accurate reporting and impactful insight.
- Contribute to forward-looking plans through risk identification and mitigation proposals.
- Support the evolution of reporting and forecasting through improved, standardised processes and tools.
To Be Successful You Will Need
- Experience in a similar merchandising role within Retail or FMCG.
- Strong analytical, numerical and Excel skills with the ability to translate data into meaningful insight.
- Confident communication and presentation skills across a range of audiences.
- A collaborative approach with the ability to build strong internal and external relationships.
- Commercial thinking with a focus on delivering strong outcomes.
- Ability to analyse sales patterns and understand demand drivers.
- Solid understanding of retail planning and demand processes.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to make confident, data-driven decisions.
- Expertise in planning and forecasting across multiple seasons and customers.
- Recognition as a technical expert within the merchandising community.
- Awareness of retail trends and category influences that inform decision-making.
Key Relationships
- External customers
- Commercial Leads
- Finance
- Data Analytics
- Product & Creative Teams
- Supply Teams
Based at our Dawson Lane site in Bradford, close to key motorway links you'll be able to take advantage of:
- Competitive salary
- 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Health cashback scheme
- Pension benefit
- Flexible working opportunities including working from home opportunities - typically you'll be in the office 2 days per week
- Free onsite parking for when you are in the office
- A variety of other cultural and lifestyle benefits, aimed at promoting a positive work/life balance
Senior Retail Merchandiser in Bradford employer: Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland
Contact Detail:
Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Retail Merchandiser in Bradford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail and FMCG sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Retail Merchandiser role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to merchandising and demand planning. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. We want you to showcase your analytical skills and commercial thinking!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your past successes in merchandising and demand planning. Include examples of how you've influenced customer strategies or improved processes. This will help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you on board as our next Senior Retail Merchandiser!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Retail Merchandiser in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Retail Merchandiser role. Highlight your experience in merchandising and demand planning, and don’t forget to showcase those strong analytical skills we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for our team. Mention specific experiences that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical abilities, be sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles. We love seeing how you can turn numbers into insights!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on the path to joining our awesome team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Retail Merchandiser, you'll need to showcase your analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics related to merchandising and demand planning. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company's product lines and recent trends in retail. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their merchandising strategies and support their goals.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully partnered with account managers or other departments to achieve common objectives.
✨Prepare for Scenario Planning
Expect questions around scenario planning and risk management. Think of specific instances where you've evaluated internal and external factors to make informed decisions, and be ready to share those insights.