At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage children's nightwear, swim and accessories merchandising while optimising product ranges.
- Company: Join the UK's largest employee-owned business with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of ownership and thrive in a supportive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in merchandising, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in Excel.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84100 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for you to join as a Merchandiser in our Merchandising teams within the Fashion Team, managing the Category of Children's Nightwear, Swim and Accessories. 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 an 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.
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
- Proven experience in Forecasting & Planning, WSSI management, influencing & stakeholder management.
- Proven 2 Years' Experience in Merchandising: Worked with Own Brand.
- 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
- Previous relevant category experience.
- Advanced in MS Excel & Google Sheets, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and Data Tables Tableau adoption.
Closing Date: August 5, 2026
Pay: £55,600.00 - £84,100.00 Annual
Contract Type: Temporary
Hours of Work: 35
Job Level: Partnership Level 6
Where You'll Be Working: London Central Office, 1 Drummond Gate, London, SW1V 2QQ
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. 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 also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants. 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 - Children's Nightwear, Swim and Accessories employer: John Lewis plc
John Lewis plc is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture at The Odney Hotel in the picturesque setting of Cookham, Berkshire. Employees benefit from competitive pay, flexible part-time hours, and opportunities for growth within a renowned company known for its commitment to customer service excellence. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and fosters a rewarding career in hospitality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser - Children's Nightwear, Swim and Accessories
✨Get Your Foot in the Door Early
In retail, many temporary roles pop up during peak seasons, like Christmas or summer sales. Keep an eye on the calendars for these spikes and start scouting for opportunities a bit in advance. We can even help you stay sharp on your search!
✨Utilise Local Connections
Visit local shops in person and chat with managers about potential temporary openings. Many retail positions are filled by word-of-mouth, so don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation while you grab a coffee or do your weekly shopping!
✨Show Off Your Availability
Retail managers love flexibility! Make sure to highlight your availability in a casual chat or when you apply through our website. The more open you are to work varied shifts, the more likely they are to bring you on board—especially for temporary gigs!
✨Be Ready for On-the-Spot Interviews
When you walk into a shop, be prepared for the possibility of an on-the-spot interview. Dress comfortably but smartly, have a few key points about your experience ready, and be enthusiastic. Remember, it’s all about making that positive first impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser - Children's Nightwear, Swim and Accessories
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any relevant experience you've got, whether it’s casual jobs or volunteer work. Employers want to see that you can interact well with customers, so think about any instances where you've gone the extra mile to help someone out.
Flexibility Is Your Best Friend:Since this is a temporary position, you should emphasise your flexibility in your application. Mention your availability clearly in your cover letter and CV—employers love knowing they can rely on you to work varied hours, especially during busy periods!
Keep It Short and Sweet:For temporary roles, we don’t need an essay! Keep your CV and cover letter concise, focusing on the most relevant experiences and skills. Highlight any specific retail achievements, like sales targets met or product knowledge that demonstrates your eagerness to dive straight in.
Tailor Your Application to John Lewis plc:Don’t forget to personalise your application for John Lewis plc! Take a look at their values and product range, and if you’ve had previous experience with similar brands, mention that. It shows you’re genuinely interested in the role and have a good understanding of what they do.
How to prepare for a job interview at John Lewis plc
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
In retail, it's all about customer interaction, so be ready to share examples of how you've handled tough customer situations. We recommend thinking through a couple of scenarios before the interview where you went above and beyond to help a customer, as these can really make you stand out.
✨Brush Up on Product Knowledge
Temporary roles often have a steep learning curve because you'll need to pick up product knowledge fast. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the main products or services that John Lewis plc offers, and if possible, try to understand their current promotions. It’ll give you the edge to engage customers effectively.
✨Flexibility is Key
Being in a temporary retail role means you may need to adapt quickly to different tasks or shifts. Be prepared to highlight your flexibility and willingness to take on varied responsibilities during the interview. Think of examples where you've had to juggle multiple tasks at once – that’ll show you're a great fit for the dynamic retail environment.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since retail roles often require collaboration, be ready to showcase your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you worked well with colleagues, especially in fast-paced situations. This will underline your ability to slot into the team at John Lewis plc and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
