At a Glance
- Tasks: Curate collections and drive sales profitability while building strong brand relationships.
- Company: Join a leading UK retail company focused on quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, and access to health and wellbeing services.
- Other info: Great opportunities for professional growth and development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of retail and brand partnerships.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for products and trends.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Brands team and broaden your knowledge! Let’s talk quality… When it comes to UK retail, it’s hard to find a company with a bigger focus on quality. We sell thousands of items an hour and our repeat customer base comes back to us time and time again for our renowned quality products. For anyone in the Brands field - this is the place to learn, grow, and thrive.
What You’ll Take On
- Liaising with External Brands and Curating Collections: Act as the main point of contact for external brands and collaborate closely with these brands to curate commercial collections that align with customer preferences and market trends. Ensure timely communication and collaboration to facilitate smooth trading processes.
- Driving Sales Profitability and Building Relationships: Develop strategies to grow sales and profitability for key brands while fostering excellent relationships. Proactively identify opportunities for revenue growth and margin improvement through effective merchandising and pricing strategies. Build rapport with brand representatives to strengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration.
- Autonomous Management of Key Brands: Take ownership of the performance of key brands, including managing sales budgets and profit targets.
- Internal Collaboration and Business Knowledge: Liaise with internal departments to ensure alignment and support for brand initiatives and develop a comprehensive understanding of the company's business operations and objectives to inform decision-making and strategy development.
- Managing Sales Budgets and Profit: Develop and manage sales budgets for key brands, ensuring alignment with overall financial goals. Monitor sales performance against targets and implement strategies to optimise profitability.
- Preparing Packs and Conducting Brand Visits: Prepare comprehensive packs prior to selection meetings, providing insights into historical performance and future opportunities. Conduct brand visits to select future season ranges and review trading performance, gathering insights for decision‑making.
- In‑Season Trading and Markdown Management: Monitor in‑season sales performance to identify opportunities for maximising sales and minimising markdowns. Implement effective trading strategies to optimise inventory levels and pricing, ensuring alignment with sales targets.
- Training and Nurturing Trainee Merchandisers: Take an active role in training and mentoring trainee merchandisers, providing guidance and support to facilitate their professional development.
What You’ll Bring
- Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions. Tailor your communication style to your audience, ensuring information is conveyed effectively and actively listen to feedback and respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns.
- Solid Technical Merchandising Skills: Utilise your technical expertise to analyse data, forecast sales, and plan inventory effectively. Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support successful trading relationships. Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to enhance your merchandising capabilities.
- Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self‑Confident: Approach your role with energy and enthusiasm, inspiring others with your passion and positivity. Demonstrate confidence in your abilities and decisions, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.
- Open‑Mindedness to New Ways of Working: Embrace innovation and creativity, actively seeking out new ideas and solutions to challenges. Be receptive to feedback and different perspectives, recognising that diverse viewpoints can lead to better outcomes. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation within your team.
- Enjoyment of the Product/Trend Side of the Role: Immerse yourself in the world of products and trends, staying informed about the latest developments and innovations. Use your passion for products and trends to drive creative merchandising strategies and inspire your team. Actively seek out opportunities to collaborate with design teams and brand partners to bring innovative products to market.
Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements.
Your Team
Joining the Brands Team at Next during this period of growth is an incredible opportunity! As an Assistant Merchandiser, you'll play a vital role in fostering relationships with external brands and curating collections that resonate with customers and market trends. It's an exciting time to be part of a team that's at the forefront of expanding Next's brand offerings and catering to diverse customer preferences!
Benefits
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- Company performance based bonus
- Sharesave scheme
- On‑site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Early VIP access to sale stock
- Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
- Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
- Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
- Free on‑site parking
- Financial Wellbeing – Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
- Apprenticeship – Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
- Direct to Work – Discount online and in‑store, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks – Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub – Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long‑term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include ‘Workplace Adjustments’ in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Brand Merchandiser: Curate Collections & Grow Brand Profit in Leicester employer: Next
Next is an exceptional employer that prioritises quality and employee growth, making it an ideal place for a Brand Merchandiser to thrive. With a vibrant work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration, employees benefit from generous discounts, a performance-based bonus scheme, and access to professional development opportunities. Located in a dynamic retail environment, Next offers a supportive atmosphere where your passion for products and trends can flourish, alongside comprehensive health and wellbeing services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Brand Merchandiser: Curate Collections & Grow Brand Profit in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their products, values, and recent news. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building connections can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to brand merchandising. Think about how you can showcase your skills in communication and technical merchandising during these discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our awesome team at StudySmarter!
We think you need these skills to ace Brand Merchandiser: Curate Collections & Grow Brand Profit in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Quality:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for quality products shine through. We love candidates who can articulate their passion for the brands and trends in the retail space, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Communication Style:Make sure to adapt your writing style to match the tone of our job description. Use clear and engaging language that reflects your personality while also demonstrating your understanding of effective communication.
Highlight Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to showcase your technical merchandising skills! Include examples of how you've used data analysis or inventory planning in past roles to drive sales and profitability. We want to see how you can bring value to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Next
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into the brands you'll be working with. Understand their values, product lines, and recent trends. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can curate collections that resonate with customer preferences.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your communication prowess. Think of examples where you've successfully liaised with external partners or internal teams. Be ready to discuss how you tailor your communication style to different audiences, as this is crucial for building relationships.
✨Bring Data to Life
Since the role involves analysing sales data and forecasting, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Highlight your technical merchandising skills and how they can contribute to optimising profitability and sales.
✨Embrace Innovation
Be open-minded and ready to discuss new ideas or creative solutions you've implemented in previous positions. Show your enthusiasm for staying updated on industry trends and how you can bring fresh perspectives to the team, especially when it comes to merchandising strategies.
