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- Tasks: Lead the Beauty Merchandising team and drive sales strategies in a luxury retail environment.
- Company: Join Harvey Nichols, a renowned luxury department store with a focus on inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 40% off fashion, beauty, and dining, plus a clothing allowance and charity days.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of luxury beauty retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in beauty merchandising and a passion for luxury retail are essential.
- Other info: Great career development opportunities and a supportive, diverse workplace culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Are you great at leading teams? Do you have retail and beauty experience? Do you love all things luxury retail? If YES, we may have the role for you…
Luxury department store, Harvey Nichols, is searching for a Group Merchandising & Planning Manager - Beauty in our Head Office in London – Knightsbridge. Our culture is based on inclusivity; we embrace diversity. Whoever you are, Harvey Nichols has a place for you.
How we reward your hard work…
At Harvey Nichols, we champion career development and are passionate about our people. We will do all we can to support your journey and career path with us. Alongside this you will have access to a world of amazing benefits such as:
- Up to 40% off fashion
- Up to 40% off hospitality, foodmarket and hampers
- 30% off beauty and perfumery, wine and spirits
- Clothing allowance
You will also have access to charity days, a season ticket/bike loan; learning and development opportunities; to our Employee Assistance Program - Retail Trust and recognition schemes and the opportunity to join one of our employee groups – Wellbeing, Diversity & Inclusion and Sustainability. These are just some of the reasons people join and stay!
About the role…
As Group Merchandising & Planning Manager - Beauty you will work alongside the Group Beauty Director & key internal stakeholders to create and deliver the omnichannel strategy for Beauty at Harvey Nichols. You will oversee the Beauty Merchandising department, helping to ensure sales and profit margin targets are met. You will lead the Merchandising team to achieve robust continuity business, successful new launches and promotional activities through optimised but controlled stock levels. You will own the budgeting process for Beauty from collation to implementation and you will inform FOB decisions by providing insight into sales and margin role includes all Own Bought beauty categories but excludes Concessions & Beauty Services.
The roles and responsibilities in this Group Merchandising & Planning Manager - Beauty include:
- Budgets, Forecasts & Finance: Building Budgets, forecasts and reporting sales and margins. Budgets to be constructed by channel, by week and by store by brand. New brand / department planning projections and forecasts. Assistance in CER process for Capex submissions. Business case submissions for investment requirements.
- Sales & Margin Reporting: Running and reviewing weekly reports and leading performance discussions at Trade Meetings. Category performance and analysis. Ad hoc reporting as required. Monitor performance to budget and escalate concerns.
- Supply Chain & Stock Optimisation: Stock and order management; ensuring the merchandising team are optimising opportunities but minimising risk through their weekly orders. Conduct range reviews in partnership with Buying. Supply chain communication – working closely with the DC to ensure all parties are aware of critical lead times and any issues. Tackling non-compliant suppliers. Managing process around aged or discontinued stock, particularly ahead of Sale periods and at year end. Propose markdowns and monitor progress. Regular communication around stock with stores.
- Maximising Department Sales & Margin Opportunities: Encourage cross functional working between the Merchandising & Buying teams. Work closely with the Buying Manager to identify opportunities and risks; to drive sales and protect margins. Work alongside the buying team, assisting with launch buys, large event buys and suggesting ways to improve our existing stock position via trade promotions & pricing strategies. Work closely with the online team to support the acceleration of this channel via trade initiatives & key strategic projects. Review Space Planning & provide densities in partnership with Buying. Develop a trading culture with stores covering sales and profitability, to facilitate a dynamic approach to our business with rolling methodical analysis, including stock and commitment control and in season trading.
- Relationship & Team Management: Build and maintain strong, commercially focused relationships with suppliers across all categories of Beauty. Attend supplier meetings to ensure robust joint business plans and optimise key launch opportunities. Ensure beauty merch team are recruited, trained & inspired to deliver the divisional strategy, working in partnership with their buying counterpart. Develop & retain talent. Deputise for the Beauty Director when appropriate. Interface effectively with other Head Office functions to ensure Beauty’s success (buying, online, finance & logistics). Develop and maintain excellent relationships with store colleagues, (General Managers & Beauty Sales Managers), to deliver the Harvey Nichols Beauty vision on a national scale. Conduct store visits as appropriate.
- Decision making: Autonomous decision-making & ownership is required in the running of the Merch department to solve immediate issues or queries with suppliers, stores and internal teams at Head Office. All major decisions are undertaken in consultation with the Beauty Director.
Is this you?
We are looking for individuals who embrace diversity, love a challenge, are passionate about luxury retail and are looking for something uniquely different. Are you:
- Recent working knowledge of beauty buying, marketing & merchandising.
- Excellent industry relationships.
- Previous experience of working in an omni-channel luxury retail environment.
- Proven commercial experience.
- Experience in leading a successful & motivated team.
- A strategic and analytical thinker, with a passion for luxury beauty.
- Results and performance driven.
- Ability to read and interpret financial data.
- Ability to problem solve.
- Strong communicator.
- Intuitive, resilient & adaptable.
- High level of attention to detail.
- Excellent planning and organisation skills; ability to drive process and new ways of working.
Where do I sign?
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you!
If you are already thinking of what you will wear on your first day (no we don’t have uniforms) and this role catches your eye, hit the “apply” button below to kick-start your journey with us.
Group Merchandising & Planning Manager in London employer: Harvey Nichols
Contact Detail:
Harvey Nichols Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Merchandising & Planning Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the beauty and retail industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Show them you’re not just about the numbers; you’re passionate about luxury retail and ready to contribute to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Group Merchandising & Planning Manager. Highlight your leadership skills and your knack for driving sales and margins.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Harvey Nichols team.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Merchandising & Planning Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Beauty: When writing your application, let your love for luxury beauty shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your retail and beauty expertise, and how they align with our vision at Harvey Nichols.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. We appreciate clarity!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Group Merchandising & Planning Manager role. Highlight relevant experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and manage budgets effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Harvey Nichols!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nichols
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Group Merchandising & Planning Manager, you'll need to be comfortable with budgets and financial data. Brush up on your ability to read and interpret financial reports, and be ready to discuss how you've used this information to drive sales and margins in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires leading a team, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you overcame them to inspire your team.
✨Understand the Beauty Market
Make sure you're well-versed in current beauty trends and the luxury retail landscape. Research Harvey Nichols' beauty offerings and be ready to discuss how you would enhance their omnichannel strategy based on your insights.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. Prepare scenarios where you've had to tackle stock optimisation or supplier issues, and explain your thought process and the outcomes of your decisions.
