At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and performance for strategic partner accounts while collaborating with various teams.
- Company: Join River Island, a vibrant brand focused on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 50% staff discount, flexible working, and a free onsite gym.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that shapes the future of merchandising.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Overview
The Strategic Partnerships Merchandising team at River Island drives commercial growth through a diverse portfolio of strategic partners and external channels.
The role involves developing and implementing the planning and trading strategy for partner accounts, ensuring alignment with the River Island brand while maximizing sales, profit and partner performance.
- Department
- Merchandising
- Location
- Head Office, Chelsea House
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.
- 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 everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
- A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill your needs, and various social events throughout the year.
- Strong support for all family setups including maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment, and dedicated support from the Retail Trust.
- Flexible working, pay‑day and summer early finish Fridays.
- Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and matched funding.
- Support with upskilling through on‑the‑job training and qualifications, and a succession plan if you want to progress.
- A generous bonus scheme and private pension plan.
- Choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
- 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays, with the option to purchase additional holiday twice a year.
- Keeping You Safe
At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role.
We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business.
We promote and encourage the belief in British Values – including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
To find out more, please visit www. gov. uk .
Our Island 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 and/or belief.
We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Partnerships Junior Merchandiser, 12 Month FTC
✨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 Strategic Partnerships Junior Merchandiser, 12 Month FTC
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!
