At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive category performance and influence trading decisions in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Company: Join Harding+, the world's only dedicated cruise retailer with a global presence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, healthcare, hybrid working, and 26 days leave.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career growth and international exposure.
- Why this job: Gain ownership and visibility while shaping retail performance in a unique industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising, strong analytical skills, and leadership capabilities.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Location: Avonmouth, Bristol (Hybrid – typically 2–3 days in office, Tuesday to Thursday)
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Are You a Commercially Driven Senior Merchandiser Looking for More Ownership and Visibility?
At Harding+, we are looking for an experienced Senior Merchandiser to join our Beauty division. This is an opportunity to play a highly visible role within a truly unique global retail business, where your decisions will directly influence category performance across an international fleet.
Cruise retail is unlike traditional retail. Trading patterns shift by itinerary, seasonality changes across markets and stock moves across a global operation, creating a fast-paced environment that requires strong commercial judgement, analytical thinking and confident decision-making.
If you enjoy solving trading challenges, influencing decisions and using data to drive performance, this could be the opportunity for you.
Own the Trade. Influence the Strategy.
As Senior Merchandiser, you will take ownership of category WSSI and Open to Buy (OTB), ensuring stock investment aligns with customer demand, sales performance and margin expectations. You will lead weekly trade reporting and performance reviews, identifying risks and opportunities across sales, stock and margin, whilst using insight to shape better commercial decisions. Working closely with Buying teams, you will influence category planning, forecasting, promotional activity and stock flow to ensure the right product reaches the right place at the right time.
This is not a role for someone who simply reports numbers. We are looking for someone who can confidently interpret data, challenge assumptions and turn insight into action to improve trading performance.
Alongside category ownership, you will also play an important leadership role within the merchandising team, coaching and supporting junior colleagues, encouraging best practice and helping maintain strong trading discipline across the function. You will work closely with Buying, Operations and Logistics teams, giving you broad exposure across the business and the opportunity to influence decisions that directly impact retail performance globally.
Why Join Harding+?
This role offers genuine ownership, visibility and autonomy within a commercially important category. You will have the opportunity to influence trading decisions, shape performance and broaden your merchandising experience beyond traditional retail in a highly collaborative environment. At Harding+, your ideas, curiosity and commercial thinking are valued. You will join a supportive and ambitious business where pace, agility and innovation matter.
About You
You are an experienced Senior Merchandiser or established Merchandiser, ideally from a branded retail background. You will bring strong experience managing WSSI and OTB, alongside a solid understanding of stock planning, forecasting, trade reporting and category performance management. You are highly analytical, commercially minded and confident working with large data sets to identify trends, risks and opportunities. Previous people leadership experience within a merchandising environment is important, alongside the confidence to coach and develop others while influencing stakeholders across Buying, Commercial and Operations teams. Strong Excel capability is essential, with exposure to Power BI or similar reporting tools highly advantageous.
What You'll Get
- Alongside a competitive salary, Harding+ offers:
- Annual bonus scheme
- Company pension
- Healthcare provision
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional five days
- Hybrid working
- Exposure to international retail operations and global trading performance
- Genuine ownership and long-term career development opportunities
About Harding+
Harding+ is the world's only dedicated cruise retailer, partnering with leading global cruise lines and operating retail shops across ships worldwide. With millions of transactions annually and a growing international footprint, we continue to shape the future of onboard retail. We are committed to building diverse teams and creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, supported and able to thrive.
Apply today and help shape category performance in one of retail's most unique global environments.
Remote working/work at home options are available for this role.
Senior Merchandiser bEAUTY Bristol (Hybrid) in Bath employer: Harding Retail
At Harding, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment in Avonmouth. As a Personal Assistant to our Executive Leadership Team, you'll enjoy the opportunity to contribute to a global business while benefiting from a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. With a commitment to diversity and a focus on employee development, you'll find meaningful opportunities to enhance your skills and make a significant impact within our award-winning team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Merchandiser bEAUTY Bristol (Hybrid) in Bath
✨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 Harding Retail, 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 Harding Retail!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Merchandiser bEAUTY Bristol (Hybrid) in Bath
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 Harding Retail, 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 Harding Retail 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 Harding Retail that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harding Retail
✨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!
