At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and performance for strategic partnerships while collaborating with various teams.
- Company: Join River Island, a beloved brand with a bright future and diverse team.
- Benefits: Enjoy 50% staff discount, flexible working, and a free onsite gym.
- Other info: Opportunities for progression and professional development await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in merchandising and grow your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Strategic Partnerships Junior Merchandiser, 12 Month FTC
Department
Merchandising
Employment Type
Fixed Term Contract
Location
- Head Office, Chelsea House
- Description
The Strategic Partnerships Merchandising team at River Island plays a key role in delivering commercial growth through a diverse portfolio of strategic partners and external channels.
This is achieved by developing and implementing the planning and trading strategy for partner accounts, ensuring alignment with the River Island brand while maximising sales, profit and partner performance.
The Junior Merchandiser has a direct impact on the product offer across Strategic Partnerships by supporting the development and delivery of the partner strategy.
Working closely with Buying, Account Management and wider business functions, they drive planning and trading performance, identify commercial opportunities, manage risk and ensure the right product reaches the right partners at the right time.
A River Island Junior Merchandiser successfully drives merchandising team performance.
Responsibilities
- Own the planning and trading of selected Strategic Partnership accounts or product categories, presenting directly to the Strategic Partnerships Merchandiser and Merch Lead.
- Support the development and delivery of the Strategic Partnerships merchandising strategy, aligned to the River Island brand and commercial objectives.
- Grow sales and profit by actively driving trading performance and supporting all aspects of the planning process.
- Through analysis of current and historical performance, partner data and market trends, identify risks and opportunities and recommend actions to improve performance.
- Work closely with Buying to develop seasonal range plans, supporting option planning, pre-season buys, intake, stock and in-season trading.
- Manage stock and partner commitments to ensure planned stock levels are maintained and trading objectives are achieved.
- Support the management of the department critical path to ensure timely product delivery.
- Produce and maintain sales reporting, forecasting and commercial analysis to support business decisions and partner performance.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with Buying, Account Management, Supply Chain and wider business teams.
- Support the implementation of company initiatives, processes and ways of working across the Strategic Partnerships function.
- Manage the development of junior merchandising team members, supporting in setting direction and objectives for the department.
Skills
- Experienced Assistant Merchandiser or current Junior Merchandiser with at least 18 months' experience within merchandising.
- Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable; experience within Strategic Partnerships or Wholesale is advantageous.
- Track record of directly managing or mentoring others to create high engagement and performance.
- Strong communication, analytical and numerical skills.
- Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to identify risks and opportunities through data analysis.
- Very strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills with good self-awareness.
- Highly organised with excellent prioritisation skills.
- Good coaching and development skills.
- Disciplined, results-oriented, resilient and adaptable to change.
- Forward-thinking, innovative, with a curious mindset.
- Passion for the River Island brand and customer.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future.
Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do.
Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions.
This is what a career at River Island is like.
And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London.
What we can offer you
- Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a staff shop on site.
- Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
- A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café and various social events throughout the year.
- Support for different family setups including enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fertility treatment; collaboration with Retail Trust for dedicated support.
- Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
- Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year with matched funding.
- Support with upskilling through on-the-job training and qualifications; succession plan for progression.
- A generous bonus scheme and private pension plan.
- Choice to opt in for healthcare through AXA.
- 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays, with option to purchase additional holiday twice a year.
- Keeping You Safe
River Island is committed to safeguarding all employees.
We promote equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
We will consider flexible working requests where operationally feasible.
For more information about our interview process, please see our hiring process.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Contact Details:
River Island Clothing Co., Ltd. Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Partnerships Junior Merchandiser, 12 Month FTC in London
✨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 Strategic Partnerships Junior Merchandiser, 12 Month FTC 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 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 River Island Clothing Co., Ltd.:Don’t forget to personalise your application for River Island Clothing Co., Ltd.! 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 River Island Clothing Co., Ltd.
✨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 River Island Clothing Co., Ltd. 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 River Island Clothing Co., Ltd. and contribute positively during your temporary stint.
