Group Office: Buying - Category Merchandiser

Squires Garden Centres is a £75M+ turnover successful family-owned business with 17 Garden Centres and 2 Plant Nurseries. The customer proposition is extensive and offers a broad range of categories including a strong Gardening and Restaurant business, Food, Giftware, Toys, Christmas, Clothing, Outdoor living plus Pets & Aquatics.

As a family business with integrity, we put people and our customers at the heart of what we do and how we do it, living our business values with passion every day. We have ambitious plans to continue our growth, evolve for the future, develop and improve for our customers.

Specifics:

• Garden Centres and nurseries based in Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire
• Group Office located in Farnham, Surrey
• Over 1000 Employees with 100s of seasonals during Spring/Summer and Christmas
• High levels of Employee engagement

Why are we recruiting?

We want to improve our product offer across our centres, to drive customer satisfaction and meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, driving sales and profit.

Who are you?

Someone who, working with the Garden Centre Managers and Buyers to:

• Drive sales, profitability, and customer valued product propositions
• Define ranging and space strategy by format and centre to optimise cash profit per square metre and deliver the customer proposition
• Support Buyers and Garden Centre teams in range selection and performance
• Work well cross functionally and engage teams and individuals in direction
• Be a team player with integrity and who strives to improve our business for our customers and colleagues

Strategy Development:

• Category ranging and space strategy plans by format and centre, ensuring we optimise by key seasonal moments, deliver sales and cash margins targets and the Squire’s product proposition

Performance Analysis:

• Analyse sales data, market trends, and competitor activity to adjust range space and stock flow, ensuring high-profit margins

Inventory and Assortment:

• Forecast demand and optimise stock levels to ensure key products and ranges are available at the right time, price and location
• Analyse distribution of stock in centres and suggest moves to optimise stock position

Marketing and Promotion:

• Collaborate with marketing team to plan and execute in-store displays, promotional campaigns, CRM Manager and seasonal events

Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor Centre teams to deliver required standards with the Operations Team

Inventory and Stock:

• Stock Turnover Rate, Stock Availability (or in-stock rate) and Days of Supply

Sales Efficiency:

• Sales per Square metres and Average Transaction Value

Market Position:

• Market Share (overall and by sub-category)

KPIs:

• ATV
• Cash profit per area
• Category market position
• Customer range and product feedback
• Sell through and exit of seasonal products

Essential Experience/qualifications:

• Experience in a merchandising role
• Strong numerical and analytical skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• High attention to detail and strong organizational ability
• Commercial awareness and understanding of retail trends
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Experience in EPOS

Desirable Experience/qualifications:

• Experience in a buying team
• Experience of cross functional working

Please apply by emailing your CV and covering letter to jo.ripley@squiresgardencentres.co.uk, no later than 10 April 2026.

Rewards & Benefits:

• Employee Discount – 50% in Restaurants and 20% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
• Holiday (including bank holidays) – 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 weeks after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
• Bonus – A non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year.
• Pension – Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees.
• Attendance – After one year's service, if you have worked for a full financial year and have 100% attendance, one day holiday will be added to your holiday grant as a 'Thank you'.
• Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D) – A reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through outstanding customer service.
• Learning & Development – A wealth of learning opportunities to enhance and develop skills.
• Birthday – Leave work early on your birthday if it falls on your contracted day to work.
• Cycle2work scheme – Offers a saving on new cycling equipment.
• Child's first day at school – Come in late and go home early on your child's first day of school life.
• RHS Membership or a Tree / Shrub – Choose either one tree or shrub to plant each year or £50 towards RHS annual membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Access to a range of wellbeing resources after 2 years service.
• Retirement – Contracted hours will be reduced by a fifth but pay will remain the same for your final 3 months after 15 years service.
• Free Parking – Available to all employees in designated parking areas.