At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the merchandising team to maximise sales and manage stock effectively.
- Company: Join River Island, a beloved brand with a bright future.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 50% staff discount, flexible working, and a free onsite gym.
- Other info: Great career progression opportunities and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team and make a real impact in retail.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Description
The Merchandising team at River Island play a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique product across all our channels. The Assistant Merchandiser is responsible for supporting the Merchandising team in delivering the planning and trading strategy, by maximising commercial opportunities through effectively managing stock across all channels, driving sales through improved availability and reducing mark down. The Assistant Merchandiser will manage the Merchandise Admin Assistant on a day to day basis and ensure that their job is completed correctly.
Department
Menswear
Location
Head Office, Chelsea House
Key Accountabilities
- Assists the merchandising team with providing accurate, relevant analysis to maximise profit throughout all channels
- Demonstrates commercial awareness through delivering relevant and concise department and category performance, suggesting action or amendments to drive profitability
- Responsible for commitment review by size, maximising sales through availability
- Responsible for the projected intake of flow products, ensuring appropriate levels of stock to sales, in line with cut offs
- Accurate management of stock inventory. Highlighting opportunities and potential risk for all channels
- Accurately maintains Weekly Intake forecasts
- Works alongside the distribution hub to deliver the distribution strategy of stock to all channels, challenging when needed.
- Responsible for ensuring promotions and markdowns are correctly actioned and maintained.
- Accountable for maintaining accurate attribution within single view of product
- Efficient use of all merchandising systems. Assisting in creating new or improving existing material
- Uses all available sources including regular store visits, sales and margin history, comp shops, suggests risks and opportunities, proposing actions to positively impact performance
- Manages the workload of the MAA with a thorough understanding of the performance, escalating to the Merchandiser when needed
- Sets the direction and objectives forthe MAA, providing timely feedback and support to enable them to work to the best of their abilities
Key Experience Required
- Previous experience at Assistant Merchandiser level, or established Senior Merchandising Admin/Senior Allocator is required
- Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable
- Track record of mentoring and developing other team members
Job Role Competencies
- Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills
- Intermediate MS Office skills
- Computer literate and ability to learn new systems
- Highly organised, good prioritisation skills
- Collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills
- Good commercial and market awareness
- Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented
- Resilient and adaptable
- Curious, continuous learning mindset
- Coaching, mentoring mindset
- Ability to present own views and assert own views
- Good presentation skills
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. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you
- Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain 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 to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
- Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
- Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
- Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
- Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
- A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
- 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment. Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.
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Assistant Merchandiser employer: River Island
RIVER ISLAND is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises inclusivity and teamwork in the heart of Belfast. With opportunities for personal growth and a generous 50% staff discount, employees are encouraged to thrive in a dynamic retail environment while making a meaningful impact on customer service and store operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Merchandiser
✨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 River Island, 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 River Island!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Merchandiser
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 River Island, 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 River Island 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 River Island that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at River Island
✨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!
