At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the team to deliver sales, stock, and profit plans in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join JD Group, a leading global retailer in sports fashion and outdoor gear.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff discounts, personal development opportunities, and a vibrant workplace culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for career growth and leadership.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team shaping the future of sports fashion retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in a similar role and a passion for sports/fashion is essential.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 32000 £ per year.
Established in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, the JD Group is a leading omni-channel retailer of Sports Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with colleagues working in stores across several retail fascias in many markets around the world. JD Sports Fashion Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and has been a FTSE 100 publicly quoted company since 2019, continuing to grow in the UK and internationally. We aim to be the leading global omnichannel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. To contribute to this success you will help ingrain our strategic goals of being a people-led, innovative and customer-focused organisation, providing operational excellence while identifying new areas of growth as part of our day‑to‑day objectives.
Role Overview: To lead the team to deliver all channel Sales, Markdown, Stock, Intake and Profit Plans.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Review previous seasons and produce SWOT analysis with supporting information.
- Alongside the Merchandiser and Buyer, create the strategy for the department and present it.
- Develop category‑level product mix using history, SWOT and SMT Plan.
- With the Senior Merchandiser formulate the space and grading plan for store distribution.
- Ensure that the WSSI is updated with the buy plan and the KPIs are signed off with the Senior Merchandiser.
- Attend key selection meetings with the Senior Merchandiser and Buyer.
- Build the range plan.
- Build layout plans in conjunction with buying and VM.
- Ensure that scheduling and ideals are in place for your area of responsibility.
- Manage the stock seasonality within the WSSI.
Stock (15%)
- Oversee the ratios for all buys in conjunction with Assistant Merchandiser.
- Ensure that the buy matches the planned buy.
- Establish working relationships with the supplier base.
- Manage the order books both in‑season and pre‑season to ensure that the most accurate information is always in the system.
- Manage intake at category and line level.
Trade (45%)
- Review weekly trading performance and achieved KPIs, identifying issues and actions in preparation for the weekly trading meetings and submit to the senior merchandiser.
- Propose and agree actions to recover risk and maximise opportunities with the Senior Merchandiser and Buyer at category and line level.
- Monthly – capture all agreed actions in the monthly forecast reviews.
- Work up the forecast from category/season level to buyer group.
- Meet and gain approval: incorporating.
- Forecast any sales variance to plan.
- Creation of OTB’s.
- Management of commitments – on‑time delivery, rebuys cancellations.
- Markdown proposals.
- Provide retail with rack list / hit list through Merchandise Assistants.
- Manage the range plan in season reflecting any changes.
- Visit and understand the store base on a regular basis.
- Create action plans to optimise store performance and communicate to the retail team anything that may impact store performance.
- Manage the store option plans to ensure each store has the optimum amount of stock and neither too full nor lacking key lines.
- Establish collaborative working relationships within the team and across functions.
Behavioural Attributes
- Delivering Excellence – work at a consistently high standard with enthusiasm, providing high‑quality service to meet personal and team expectations.
- Responsibility – take ownership of your work, use initiative to deliver, and take responsibility for your own actions and decisions.
- Teamwork – collaborate with others to reach a common goal, sharing information, supporting colleagues, and seeking expertise and solutions from relevant stakeholders.
- Leadership – lead by example through your behaviours and professional approach, inspiring colleagues and driving for results.
- Communication – communicate clearly and concisely, ensuring that the message is understood by all.
Skills / Experience / Knowledge Needed
- Experience within a similar role is essential.
- Experience within a sports/fashion retailer is advantageous.
- Highly numerate and strong commercial focus.
Benefits: Staff discount on JD Group and other brands within the organisation and personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work.
Junior Merchandiser - Apparel in Bury employer: JDSPORTS
At JD Sports Fashion Plc, we pride ourselves on being a people-led and innovative organisation that values teamwork and excellence. Located in Bury, Greater Manchester, our head office offers a dynamic work culture with ample opportunities for personal development and career growth within the thriving sports and outdoor retail sector. Join us to be part of a leading FTSE 100 company where your contributions directly impact our success and where you can enjoy benefits like staff discounts across our brands.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Merchandiser - Apparel in Bury
✨Tap into Fashion-Specific Platforms
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Utilise Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your eye for fashion. Create a portfolio of your style or even designs if you’re feeling creative. This not only builds your personal brand but also gets you noticed by potential employers who are always on the lookout for fresh talent.
✨Join Fashion Networking Events
Get yourself along to local fashion events, pop-up shops or trade shows. Networking is key in fashion, so chat with industry professionals, and don't be shy to hand out your contact details. You never know who might put in a good word for you when an entry-level role opens up.
✨Apply Directly to JDSPORTS
Don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page at JDSPORTS for any entry-level openings. Applying directly through their website can often put you ahead of the competition, especially if they’re looking to fill roles quickly. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team!
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Merchandiser - Apparel in Bury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Style:When you're applying for a job in fashion-apparel, it's crucial to let your personal style shine through in your application. Incorporate design elements or a unique layout in your CV that reflects your understanding of current trends and your creative flair. This helps us see how you think about aesthetics from the get-go!
Highlight Relevant Education & Experience:If you’ve taken any fashion courses or have experience in retail, make sure that's front and centre on your CV! Whether it's a part-time job at a clothing store or a fashion-related project you worked on at university, we want to see how your background aligns with our fashion-forward ethos at JDSPORTS.
Passion Over Experience:Since this is an entry-level position, we understand you might not have loads of experience. So, in your cover letter, focus on your passion for fashion! Share why you're excited about working with us at JDSPORTS, and connect it to your motivation for wanting to enter this vibrant industry.
Include a Portfolio, Even If Small:If you have any sketches, designs, or mood boards, don’t hesitate to share them! Even a small portfolio links creativity to your application and can set you apart. If you don't have any portfolio pieces yet, consider including links to your favourite fashion blogs or Instagram accounts that inspire you — we love seeing what gets you excited about fashion!
How to prepare for a job interview at JDSPORTS
✨Show Off Your Passion for Fashion
Let’s be real; the fashion world is super competitive. So, we need to showcase our passion! Bring a portfolio of our best styling looks, whether it’s a mood board, personal projects, or even student work. It’s our chance to show JDSPORTS that we live and breathe fashion!
✨Stay Trendy and Informed
Before the interview, we should catch up on current trends, famous designers, and industry news. It might just be the perfect icebreaker or the punchline to a question! Plus, it shows JDSPORTS that we’re not just here for a job; we’re genuinely keen on what’s happening in the world of fashion.
✨Demonstrate Your Creativity
Since we're stepping into an entry-level role, we should be prepared to discuss our creative process. Maybe sketch a design or outline how we’d style a specific piece if asked. JDSPORTS wants to see our imagination at work, so don’t be shy about expressing our unique ideas!
✨Know Your Fashion Terms
Let’s brush up on our fashion vocabulary! From ‘couture’ to ‘athleisure’, knowing the lingo can really help us in the interview. JDSPORTS might throw in some technical questions, so being fluent in fashion speak will show we’re ready to dive into the industry headfirst.
