At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage product ranges and deliver customer-focused strategies to achieve sales and stock targets.
- Company: Join Argos, a leading digital retailer with a commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible working, performance bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape your career in a dynamic environment while making a real impact on customer experience.
- Qualifications: Retail merchandising experience and strong analytical skills using Excel and planning systems.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About the team
Argos Commercial & Digital sits at the heart of how we deliver brilliant, customer-focused product ranges across our multi-channel business. Our Merchandising teams work closely with Buying, Supply Chain, Digital and Forecasting partners to ensure the right products are available at the right time, balancing customer demand with commercial performance and operational efficiency.
More about the role
As a Merchandiser, you’ll be responsible for delivering a customer-focused range that achieves sales, profit, margin, stock and availability targets. You’ll develop and reforecast budgets across key KPIs, manage intake and lifecycle activity, and use data-led insight to steer weekly trading decisions.
Working in partnership with Buying and cross-functional teams (including Supply Chain, Digital, Trade Planning, Allocation & Replenishment and Demand Forecasting), you’ll execute trading plans covering pricing, promotions, markdowns and clearance. You’ll also build effective ways of working with the Accenture Managed Services team to ensure forecasts, processes and data integrity are delivered accurately and on time.
More about you
You bring demonstrable retail merchandising experience managing a live range or product category, with a track record of forecasting, reforecasting and intake management to deliver against commercial targets. You’re confident using merchandising/planning systems and Excel to analyse performance, spot risks and turn insight into action.
You’re effective at building relationships and influencing stakeholders across teams, raising issues early and driving resolution. You take ownership for delivery, keep processes compliant and data accurate, and can prioritise competing deadlines in a fast-paced trading environment. Where required, you’ll coach and support Assistant Merchandisers to help them deliver to plan and develop their capability.
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable merchandising experience, either operating at Merchandiser level or as a high-performing Assistant Merchandiser ready to step up, with ownership or exposure to sales, stock, margin and availability, including forecasting and reforecasting against budget.
- Experience using merchandising or planning systems and advanced Excel to analyse performance, manage phasing and intake plans, and maintain data integrity.
- Evidence of building and delivering trading plans (including pricing, promotions, markdowns and clearance) in partnership with Buying and cross‑functional stakeholders.
- Ability to manage intake and product lifecycle activity (launch, cancellations, rephasing and clearance) to achieve availability and stock targets.
- Experience working with central support or managed service teams, ensuring process compliance and timely escalation of issues.
Location: Coventry SSC and Home (hybrid)
At Argos, we’re a digital-led UK retailer that keeps pushing boundaries to meet every generation with what they want, how and when they want it. As a market leader in general merchandise, serving millions of customers through our website, app, same-day delivery and Click & Collect services, we offer real opportunities to learn, grow and shape your career.
We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working.
When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them: Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.
Merchandiser - Homewares (12 month FTC) in Coventry employer: Sainsbury's
At Argos, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and inclusive employer that champions employee growth and development. With a hybrid working model based in Coventry, we offer a vibrant work culture where collaboration thrives across teams, alongside a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous discounts, performance-related bonuses, and a commitment to your wellbeing. Join us to shape the future of retail while enjoying meaningful career opportunities in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser - Homewares (12 month FTC) in Coventry
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their merchandising strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about what you bring to the table and how you can help them achieve their targets. A confident delivery can make all the difference in leaving a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Argos.
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser - Homewares (12 month FTC) in Coventry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Merchandiser role. Highlight your relevant experience in merchandising, forecasting, and working with cross-functional teams. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, don’t forget to mention your proficiency in Excel and any merchandising systems you’ve used. Share specific examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in your previous roles.
Demonstrate Relationship Building:We value strong relationships across teams, so include examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or resolved issues in the past. This will show us that you can thrive in our collaborative environment.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sainsbury's
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Merchandiser, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Brush up on your Excel skills and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Prepare specific examples of how you’ve forecasted sales or managed stock levels.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with Argos' product ranges and their approach to merchandising. Show that you understand their customer base and how your role as a Merchandiser fits into their multi-channel strategy. This will demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, think about how you can showcase your relationship-building skills. Prepare examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or resolved conflicts in previous positions. This will highlight your collaborative nature.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific merchandising scenarios, like managing markdowns or dealing with stock shortages. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies clearly, as this will show your problem-solving abilities.
