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- Tasks: Lead merchandising strategy, manage stock flow, and oversee product lifecycle.
- Company: Join Ryman, a 130-year-old stationery leader, part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous holidays, wellness support, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a dynamic team that values your growth and ideas.
- Qualifications: Degree in Business or Merchandising; 2-4 years leadership experience in merchandising required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse, inclusive culture that celebrates differences and encourages collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
WHAT WILL THIS ROLE INVOLVE?
We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Merchandising to lead our product assortment, stock/inventory planning, and visual merchandising teams. This is a critical leadership role that will drive our product strategy, ensuring we offer a compelling and profitable range of stationery that resonates with our target audience and reinforces our brand identity. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of retail merchandising, a strong analytical mindset, and a passion for stationery.
WHAT WILL YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR?
Strategic Vision & Leadership:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy aligned with the company\’s overall business objectives, brand vision, and financial goals.
- Identify market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscapes to inform product development and assortment planning.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing merchandising/stock team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Stock & Allocation Management :
- Own the end to end stock flow strategy including intake phasing, allocations, replenishment and clearance.
- Work with Supply Chain and Retail Operations to optimise stock availability across all channels.
- Full ownership of the WSSI and on-going development.
Product Assortment & Planning:
- Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from concept and development to launch and discontinuation.
- Collaborate closely with the buying team, design, and Far East sourcing teams to ensure timely and effective product launches.
- Develop and manage product assortments across all categories, channels and price points, optimising all for sales, margin, and inventory turns.
- Conduct regular sales analysis, performance reviews, and forecasting to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
- Manage open-to-buy (OTB) and inventory levels to maximise profitability and minimise excess stock.
Space and Visual Planning:
- Define and implement visual merchandising guidelines for all retail environments ensuring consistent brand representation and an engaging customer experience.
- Develop compelling in-store displays, planograms, and promotional strategies to drive sales and enhance the customer journey.
- Lead space and layout planning including planogramming, seasonal promotional layouts and ensuring profitable space return
- Use space productivity data to influence range rationalisation and layout resets
Vendor Relationships & Sourcing:
- Collaborate with stock and merchandising and buying team to identify, evaluate, and manage vendor relationships, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and ethical practices.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to deliver a market leading on time, if full (OTIF) to enable KPI delivery.
Collaboration & Communication:
- Work cross-functionally with marketing, operations, finance, and buying teams to ensure seamless execution of merchandising strategies.
- Present merchandising strategies, performance reports, and insights to senior leadership.
- Create board decks and present to Senior leadership teams the Merchandising strategies.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IN YOU:
- Degree in Business, Merchandising preferred
- Industry experience in merchandising, with at least 2-4 years in a leadership role, preferably within the stationery, gift, home goods, or a similar consumer products industry.
- Proven track record of developing and executing successful merchandising strategies that drive sales growth and profitability.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Expertise in retail inventory management, and open-to-buy planning.
- Demonstrated experience in visual merchandising and creating compelling product presentations.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
- Lead with humility and builds a culture of challenge and collaboration
- Comfortable with fast paced decision making and takes accountability and ownership for their decisions
- Commercially curious and thrived on improving processes and outcomes
- Proficiency in merchandising software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
- A genuine passion for stationery products and an understanding of the stationery market is highly desirable
WHAT WILL WE OFFER YOU?
- A passionate, dynamic team where your growth, ideas, and impact matter
- A competitive pay package
- Company pension scheme with the option to enhance
- Generous holiday allowance including an extra wellbeing day that gives you time to recharge
- Training programme to help you excel in your role
- Opportunities through our apprenticeship programs to keep building on your skills
- Access to mental health first aiders, wellness sessions, and support groups
- Exclusive discounts across all of our brands and through our benefits hub
- Cycle2Work scheme
- Long service and recognition awards
- Colleague referral scheme
- Company and team social events
- Free on-site parking
- Subsidised canteen
WHO ARE WE?
Founded by Henry J Ryman in 1893, Ryman has been the go-to destination for stationery, office supplies, printing, technology, and more for over 130 years. We are part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, which also includes Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue, and London Graphic Centre.
From our very first store on Great Portland Street, we have grown to over 200 locations and a thriving website and app offering quality products and exceptional service. We believe in supporting our colleagues and equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to grow, thrive, and have fun whilst doing it.
At Ryman, all of our teams from our stores to our warehouse and Retail Support Centre are passionate about retail. We put our customers first and have a common goal to keep them at the heart of everything we do. We are energetic and enthusiastic, delivering results through resilience, innovation, and adaptability. If you are a team player who\’s ready to make an impact, this could be the perfect role for you.
Ryman is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce and follow the guidelines of the Equality Act. Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate differences, encourage everyone to join us, and be themselves at work.
PLEASE NOTE THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE AND YOU MAY BE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT OTHER DUTIES AS AND WHEN REQUIRED.
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Head of Merchandising employer: Ryman
Contact Detail:
Ryman Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Merchandising
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in merchandising, especially within the stationery sector. Understanding what resonates with consumers can help you articulate your vision during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the merchandising field, particularly those who have experience in leadership roles. Engaging with industry peers can provide insights and potentially lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and driven sales growth in previous roles. Highlighting your leadership style and results will demonstrate your fit for this position.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to discuss how you've used data to inform merchandising decisions. Being able to interpret trends and make data-driven choices is crucial for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Merchandising
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in merchandising, leadership roles, and your analytical skills. Use specific examples that demonstrate your success in driving sales growth and managing product assortments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for stationery and how your background aligns with the company's vision. Mention your understanding of market trends and your ability to lead teams effectively.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Include examples of how you've used data to inform merchandising strategies or improve inventory management. This will demonstrate your strong analytical mindset, which is crucial for this role.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Emphasise your experience in leading teams and fostering a collaborative culture. Provide examples of how you've mentored team members and driven performance improvements in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ryman
✨Showcase Your Strategic Vision
As a Head of Merchandising, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to develop and execute a comprehensive merchandising strategy. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've aligned product strategies with business objectives in your previous roles.
✨Highlight Your Analytical Skills
This role requires a strong analytical mindset. Bring data-driven examples of how you've identified market trends and consumer preferences in the past. Discuss how these insights informed your product development and assortment planning.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Leadership is key for this position. Share your experiences in mentoring and developing high-performing teams. Highlight how you've fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation within your team.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
The role involves working closely with various departments. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with marketing, operations, and finance teams in the past. Provide examples of how these collaborations led to successful merchandising strategies.