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.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team with opportunities for growth and a positive work/life balance.
- 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.
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
As a Senior Retail Merchandiser at our Bradford location, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation. We offer competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and flexible working arrangements to support your work/life balance, alongside opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive team environment. Join us to make impactful decisions that drive our merchandising excellence while enjoying a range of lifestyle benefits.
Contact Details:
Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Retail Merchandiser in Bradford
✨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 Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland, 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 Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Retail Merchandiser in Bradford
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 Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland, 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 Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland 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 Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hallmark Cards UK & Ireland
✨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!
