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- Tasks: Join our team as a Merchandiser and optimise handbag ranges for our customers.
- Company: Be part of the UK's largest employee-owned business, John Lewis and Waitrose.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion merchandising while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in merchandising with strong analytical and communication skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 72000 £ per year.
About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join as a Merchandiser in our Merchandising teams within the Handbags department within the Fashion department. You will be a highly experienced, analytical and commercial Merchandiser who uses their broad expert knowledge to plan and optimise the best range for customers within your category. Your remit will be to deliver 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 analyse commercial inputs to develop, with the Buyer, the best range of products supported by effective and comprehensive range planning and pricing architecture to deliver market leading assortments. You will be People Manager of your category team’s Merchandising Assistants, creating the conditions for them to thrive, and balancing their focus and priorities as required. You will be expected to manage an assortment of high strategic importance and/or complexity within your category that achieves strong customer satisfaction.
Salary - The salary range for this role is set at £54,500.00 - £84,100.00. Expected Salary - however, we are looking for candidates up to £60K (Depending on experience).
Contract type - This position is a Permanent position.
Working pattern/flexible working - This is a hybrid working role. The normal place of work for this role is our London Central Office in Pimlico. The expectation is a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as team collaboration is critical in this role - core days will vary across teams.
Location - This role is based at our Pimlico Head Office.
Some of your key responsibilities will include:
- You will be accountable for accurately planning and forecasting sales, stock, profit and SKUs for the Merchandising Manager L5 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 your 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 Merchandising Manager L5, Buyer, Head of Merchandising, Supply Chain, Trade Planning, Sourcing, Trading & Product Operations teams, Design and Product Technology. Externally, you will hold a strong relationship with your suppliers and Brands.
- 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 may on occasion, be asked to roll up Category wide analysis in support of the Head of Buying and Head of Merchandising.
- You will be People Manager to your team’s Merchandising Assistant partner/s, providing Coaching, development and feedback.
Essential Skills you will need:
- Proven experience in Forecasting & Planning, WSSI management, influencing & stakeholder management.
- Minimum of 2 Years’ Experience in Merchandising: Demonstrated expertise in merchandising practices, including assortment planning and stock management.
- Experience in a variety of Category Areas: Strong Analytical and Numerical Skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or similar analytical tools.
- Strong Communication and Presentation Skills.
- Understanding of Retail Operations and Supply Chain Management.
- Proactive Approach to Learning and Development.
Desirable Skills you may have:
- Previous relevant category experience.
- Advanced in MS Excel & Google Sheets, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and Data Tables.
- Tableau adoption.
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.
Contact Detail:
John Lewis & Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser- Handbags
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, especially in the Handbags category. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of a Merchandiser. Highlight your analytical skills and past successes in merchandising to make a strong impression.
✨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 serious about joining our team and being part of the Partnership.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser- Handbags
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Merchandiser role. Highlight your experience in forecasting, planning, and stock management, as these are key skills we’re looking for. Use specific examples that showcase your analytical prowess and commercial success.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for merchandising and how your previous experiences align with our values at StudySmarter. Don’t forget to mention why you’re excited about the opportunity to work with us in the Handbags department.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical skills, make sure to include any relevant tools or software you’ve used, like Excel or Tableau. We want to see how you’ve used data to drive decisions and improve outcomes in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis & Partners
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Merchandiser, you'll need to demonstrate your analytical skills. Brush up on key metrics like sales forecasts, stock levels, and margin KPIs. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to make decisions in past roles.
✨Showcase Your Team Leadership
Since you'll be managing Merchandising Assistants, highlight your experience in coaching and developing team members. Share specific examples of how you've created a thriving environment for your team and balanced priorities effectively.
✨Understand the Supply Chain
Familiarise yourself with retail operations and supply chain management. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve managed inventory levels and maximised availability while minimising costs. This will show that you understand the bigger picture.
✨Prepare for Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with buyers, product operations, or suppliers. Emphasise your communication skills and how you build strong relationships to achieve common goals.
