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- Tasks: Join our team as a Merchandiser and optimise product ranges for our Womenswear Brands.
- Company: Be part of the UK's largest employee-owned business, John Lewis Partnership.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion merchandising while developing your skills in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel required.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to support your work-life balance.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 84000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join as a Merchandiser in our Merchandising teams within the Womenswear Brands 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. You may be asked to have oversight over the roll-up of other offices within your Category.
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.
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.
Merchandiser – Womenswear Brands employer: John Lewis Partnership
Contact Detail:
John Lewis Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser – Womenswear Brands
✨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 values and how they align with yours. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Merchandiser role. Highlight your experience in forecasting, planning, and managing stock, and don’t forget to mention your analytical skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining us and becoming a Partner in our mission to build a happier world.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser – Womenswear Brands
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 womenswear and merchandising, and explain how your background aligns with our values at StudySmarter. Don’t forget to mention your people management experience, as we value strong leaders.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical skills, be 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 previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis Partnership
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Merchandiser, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Brush up on your forecasting and planning skills, especially around sales, stock, and profit margins. Be ready to discuss how you've used analytics in past roles to drive decisions.
✨Showcase Your Team Leadership
Since you'll be managing Merchandising Assistants, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership style. Prepare examples of how you've coached and developed team members in the past, and how you create an environment where they can thrive.
✨Understand the Brand and Market
Research the Womenswear Brands you'll be working with. Familiarise yourself with their product ranges, target customers, and market trends. This will help you speak confidently about how you can optimise their offerings during the interview.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific merchandising challenges, like managing stock levels or responding to market changes. Think through potential scenarios and how you'd approach them, showcasing your analytical and proactive mindset.
