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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse data and optimise product ranges for an iconic sports brand.
- Company: Join the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in merchandising while growing your career with a respected brand.
- Qualifications: Experience in forecasting, planning, and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 45000 £ per year.
About the role
Would you like to work for an iconic brand? Are you great at analysing data and building relationships? Do you have experience in range planning? If so, this might be the perfect role for you! We are looking for a Junior Merchandising in Sports. You will use your analytical and commercial skills to plan and optimise the best range for customers within your category. You will work under the guidance of the Category Lead to deliver your agreed KPIs, including sales, profit, stock, SKUs, availability, margin and risk management. You will maximise opportunities as they arise and lead the in‑season trading to potentialise the outcome for both customers and your category. You will task manage Merchandising Assistant/s relevant to your product category, ensuring they have clear guidelines to fulfil their role. You will analyse commercial inputs to develop, with the Buyer, the best range of products supported by an effective and comprehensive range planning and pricing architecture to deliver market‑leading assortments.
Salary - £34,000 to £51,500.00 Maximum Salary - Up to £45,000.00 depending on experience
Contract type - Permanent role
Working pattern/flexible working - Hybrid; minimum 3 days in office
Location - Pimlico Head Office campus
Key responsibilities
- You will be accountable for accurately planning and forecasting sales, stock, profit and SKUs for your category with the support of the L6 Merchandiser and Trade Planning team.
- You will be accountable for the commercial and customer success of a product range through range planning and agile in‑season trading, using analysis and reporting from Product Operations.
- Through the Merchandising Assistants you will manage the flow of stock for your office, controlling inventory levels and open to buy.
- You are accountable for maximising availability across channels whilst minimising inventory holding costs and other supply chain costs.
- You will work at pace and with agility within a collaborative environment with your Merchandiser, Buyer, Head of Merchandising, Supply Chain, Trade Planning, sourcing, Trading Operations team, Design and Product Technology.
- Externally you will hold a strong relationship with your supplier and Brands.
- With support from your L6 Merchandiser you will be accountable for forecasting assortment Sales, Stock and Margin KPIs, deciding Open To Buy parameters that meet commercial and customer targets.
- In collaboration with Buying, you will need to make season trading and volume decisions along with the commercial terms and product lifecycle with the suppliers.
- You will task‑manage relevant Merchandising Assistant partner/s in your team.
Essential skills/experience you'll need
- Experience in Forecasting & Planning, WSSI management, influencing & stakeholder management
- Commercial Acumen
- Experience in BTA preparation, margin modelling and flow planning
- Ability to demonstrate experience in merchandising practices, including assortment planning and stock management
- Strong Analytical and Numerical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools
- Proficiency in reporting tools such as Business Intelligence, Tableau
- Communication and Presentation Skills
- Understanding of Retail Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Proactive Approach to Learning and Development
About The Partnership
We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food‑lovers in Waitrose. As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.
Important points to note
It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre‑employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third‑party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles. We occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible. We want all of our Partners to have a good work‑life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.
Junior Merchandiser – Sports employer: John Lewis & Partners
Contact Detail:
John Lewis & Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Merchandiser – Sports
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Know their latest trends and how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your analytical skills! Be ready to discuss how you've used data in past roles to make decisions. This is key for a Junior Merchandiser role, so have examples at the ready.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Merchandiser – Sports
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Make sure to highlight your experience with data analysis and forecasting in your application. We want to see how you've used these skills in past roles, especially in merchandising or retail.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their background to what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences quickly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis & Partners
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Junior Merchandiser, you'll be dealing with sales forecasts and stock management. Brush up on your analytical skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data in past roles. Bring examples of how you’ve successfully forecasted sales or managed stock levels.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Building relationships is key in this role. Prepare to talk about your experience working with suppliers and internal teams. Think of specific instances where your communication skills helped resolve an issue or improved collaboration.
✨Understand the Brand
Research the company’s values and its iconic brand status. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of being brilliant at retail. Show that you understand their customer base and how merchandising plays a role in enhancing customer experience.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about scenarios related to range planning and in-season trading. Prepare to explain how you would handle challenges like stock shortages or changing market trends, demonstrating your proactive approach.