At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Gifts category, driving sales and collaborating with creative teams to launch innovative products.
- Company: Join Lush, a pioneering, employee-owned brand committed to ethical practices and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, a supportive work culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values unique perspectives and champions ethical business practices.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while promoting sustainability and creativity.
- Qualifications: Retail experience, strong sales drive, and excellent communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Diversity matters. We are building a brand that represents the people of the world. It's what you do that counts, and we are always looking to expand perspectives and voices to shape our future. We see you, we celebrate you, we want you!
Who we are: You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there's more to this great-smelling, partly employee-owned, family-run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good. The Living Wage Foundation's statement "a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay" is one that we are proud to commit to in the UK. As an accredited Living Wage employer, we put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what's inside that counts — whether that's an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.
The role: This role links creative vision and direction with commercial execution, turning high-level creative concepts into profitable, measurable results. The Gifts Category Sales Lead is a brand ambassador who proactively drives sales, assesses the range, and the distinct Lush approach across Gifts, Knot Wraps, and Sundries. You will cut through the noise to carve out market opportunities, expanding our Gifts market share without ever compromising on our ethical and environmental values. Operating cross-functionally, you will act as a critical bridge between Retail, Designers, Insights, and PR. Regular travel will be required to either London or Poole depending on your office location.
Key Responsibilities:
- Actively curate the gifting range in collaboration with the Creative Design and Category Lead. Use performance metrics to identify "hero" products to scale, and make strategic decisions on product discontinuations for underperforming gift sets.
- Lead the gifting launch roadmap. Partner closely with inventors and creative design teams to bring collections to market, proactively identifying gaps in the market to steer future range additions.
- Optimise our gift contents and support and collaborate on content selection to ensure the optimum mix of fresh, handmade products are included within gift sets.
- Packaging & Sustainable Design: Ensure final packaging reflects the best quality while championing pioneering environmental initiatives, such as managing our transition to a 50% void space policy ahead of the 2030 timeline.
- Collaborate with global forecasting teams to predict demand accurately across collections, maintaining an overhead view of stock quantities across individual markets to maximise sales and minimise waste.
Data Driven Decision Making & Strategy:
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the gifting category. Create comprehensive post launch sales reports following peak periods to inform future collections.
- Collaborate with the Insights team to conduct deep dives into specific market sales, global trends, and competitor offerings, reporting findings back to the Creative Design and Category Lead.
- Oversee the gift costing model alongside the pricing teams to ensure gift ranges remain highly profitable and lean toward savings. Establish a pricing strategy that targets optimum price points and opportunities across different global markets.
Cross Functional Collaboration & Sales Driving:
- Liaise with global retail and digital teams to gather local insights and ensure online, app, and in store spaces communicate consistent, high impact stories.
- Build, maintain, and scale up comprehensive training resources and packs for all collections. Create and communicate vibrant training sessions for stores to run, driving internal knowledge, confidence, and excitement at in person retail meetings.
- Act as a key public advocate for Lush gifting. Create PR opportunities and messaging that elevate the work of our inventors and designers. Build relationships with external publications and design forums to highlight our unique brand values and environmental policies.
- Partner with other Category Leads to uncover opportunities for cross functional collaboration, content sharing, and processes.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise:
- Proven experience working within the retail sector, demonstrating a profound, intuitive understanding of the fast moving Retail landscape, peak trading calendars, and shifting consumer behaviours.
- A relentless passion for the category and an innate drive for making money and hitting sales targets. You look at ranges through a commercial lens, constantly identifying opportunities to maximise profitability and drive category growth.
- If you already work for Lush you'll ideally be well connected across manufacturing, digital, and retail, with a proven ability to mobilise existing networks.
- You'll be highly charismatic with the exceptional interpersonal skills required to build trust, establish credibility, and forge cross functional relationships at lightning speed.
- A high energy communicator who can passionately "sell" the category's vision, strategy, and ethical messages. You know how to cut through the noise, and generate genuine excitement and buy in from store teams, global markets, and senior Founders.
- Comfortable working with numbers. Adept at interpreting complex sales, margin, and competitor data to support shaping pricing structures and robust range planning.
- Highly organised and methodical, with a proven knack for managing end to end launch timelines across multiple global markets simultaneously.
- Deeply passionate about translating sustainable design, environmental policies (such as our 50% void space goals), and ethical practices into highly successful, commercial product stories.
- Someone who champions our commitment to the importance of diversity within design.
- A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can comfortably navigate ambiguity while driving projects forward independently.
Gifts Category Sales Lead in London employer: Lush
At Lush, we pride ourselves on being an employee-owned, family-run company that champions ethical practices and sustainability while fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture. As a Living Wage employer, we prioritise our people, offering ample opportunities for growth and development within a creative and dynamic environment. Join us in making a positive impact through innovative products and a commitment to diversity, all while enjoying the unique advantage of working in a brand that truly values its employees and their contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Gifts Category Sales Lead in London
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Lush, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Lush!
We think you need these skills to ace Gifts Category Sales Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Lush, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Lush and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Lush that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lush
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!