At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage product launches, quality control, and analyse performance data to drive merchandising strategy.
- Company: Join SUMWON STUDIOS, a vibrant collective of fashion brands making waves globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, health schemes, and a 30% employee discount on all brands.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of fashion in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: 1-2 years in merchandising or relevant internship experience; strong analytical and organisational skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth and a modern office space.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: Manchester
Job Type: Full-time
About SUMWON STUDIOS
SUMWON STUDIOS is a fast-growing collective of direct-to-consumer fashion brands, including MISSGUIDED, SUMWON, BALR, Baby Phat, AiiRZ and KiZN. Our mission is to create bold, culturally relevant fashion brands that connect with a diverse global audience. We bring together a world-class team of designers, trend forecasters and digital innovators who work collaboratively to turn creative ideas into commercially successful products. Through our deep understanding of consumer behaviour, market trends and data-led insights, we craft brands that not only inspire but also perform.
Our exclusive partnership with one of the largest fashion retailers in the world enables us to reach over 150 million customers globally, giving our brands an unparalleled platform for growth. As we continue to scale, we are building a team of forward thinkers who thrive in a fast-paced, digital-first environment. The Assistant Merchandiser plays a key role in this mission, supporting our merchandising strategy, driving performance, and ensuring our products and collections reach customers in the most compelling way possible.
We celebrate individuality, creativity and collaboration, and we are looking for people ready to challenge convention and make their mark in the world of global fashion.
The Role
As an Assistant Merchandise Planner at SUMWON STUDIOS, you will be the operational backbone of our merchandise planning function, ensuring products launch on time with exceptional quality while also supporting planning through insightful analysis. You will coordinate daily product launches across multiple brands, manage critical path workflows, create curated product selections for landing pages, and deliver performance deep-dives that inform buying and merchandising strategy. This role sits in between operations, analysis, and merchandising curation - perfect for someone who thrives on making things happen while understanding the "why" behind the data.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Launch Management & Quality Control
- Manage daily product launch scheduling for assigned brands
- Conduct pre-launch quality control checks to ensure product readiness (imagery, content, pricing)
- Coordinate with design and buying teams to resolve any pre-launch issues or discrepancies
- Maintain launch calendars and communicate status updates to cross-functional teams
- Manage critical path tracking for products in development & follow up on product status updates with relevant teams and suppliers
- Coordinate sample reorders when needed and track sample delivery status
- Collate and share AWB lists for re-sampled products with the studio team
- Ensure supplier and internal team compliance with timelines
- Create performance reports for monthly & quarterly strategy meetings
- Leverage internal brand performance data and competitive marketplace intelligence to identify which product attributes drive sales
- Translate data into actionable insights that inform design & buying decisions
- Identify products with poor-quality retouching or recolours that require correction
- Request internal retouching improvements and follow through to completion
- Maintain quality standards across all product imagery and content
- Build line lists for onsite landing pages across brands (seasonal collections, trend edits, bestsellers)
- Create ad hoc line lists for the buying team to support assortment planning decisions
What you’ll bring
- 1-2 years of experience in merchandising, buying, e-commerce or product operations; OR fresh graduate with relevant fashion/retail internship experience
- Experience in fashion retail, e-commerce, or marketplace environments is highly valued
- Understanding of the fashion product lifecycle from design through launch
- Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills for data analysis and reporting
- Ability to analyse product performance data and identify meaningful patterns
- Comfort working with numbers and translating data into insights
- Exceptional organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Strong attention to detail, especially for quality control processes
- Proactive problem-solver who can identify issues and coordinate solutions
- Process-oriented mindset with focus on efficiency and continuous improvement
- Commercial awareness and understanding of what drives fashion product performance
- Eye for product curation and ability to build compelling assortments
- Appreciation for fashion trends and how they influence consumer behaviour
- Understanding of how product attributes (silhouette, colour, print, fit) impact sales
What’s on offer?
- 25 working days of annual leave plus bank holidays
- Health Scheme
- 30% employee discount on all SUMWON Studios brands (SUMWON, MISSGUIDED, AiiRZ)
- Company social events
- Creative work environment
- Hybrid working to support work-life balance
- Enhanced paternity and maternity leave
- Pension contributions employee 5% employer 3%
- Opportunity to be part of a dynamic, innovative and fun organisation.
- Collaborative and supportive work culture with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- An engaging and supportive work environment
- A very modern office to work in
Sumwon Studios is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within our work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Assistant Merchandiser in Manchester employer: SUMWON STUDIOS
Contact Detail:
SUMWON STUDIOS Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Merchandiser in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fashion industry, especially those connected to SUMWON STUDIOS. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs on LinkedIn. You never know who might help you land that Assistant Merchandiser role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your merchandising experience and any relevant projects. Bring it along to interviews or share it during networking chats. It’s a great way to demonstrate your understanding of the fashion product lifecycle and your analytical prowess.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on trends! Follow fashion blogs, social media influencers, and market reports to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s hot. This knowledge will not only impress interviewers but also help you speak their language when discussing product performance and consumer behaviour.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the SUMWON STUDIOS family. Don’t forget to tailor your application to highlight how you can contribute to our mission of creating bold, culturally relevant fashion brands.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Merchandiser in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Assistant Merchandiser role. Highlight your relevant experience in merchandising, buying, or e-commerce, and show us how your skills align with our mission at SUMWON STUDIOS.
Show Off Your Data Skills: Since this role involves a lot of analysis, don’t forget to showcase your Excel or Google Sheets skills. Share examples of how you've used data to drive decisions or improve processes in your previous roles or internships.
Be Creative and Insightful: We love creativity! When writing your application, include any insights you have about current fashion trends or consumer behaviour. This will show us that you’re not just about numbers but also understand the 'why' behind them.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SUMWON STUDIOS
✨Know Your Brands
Before the interview, dive deep into SUMWON STUDIOS and its brands like MISSGUIDED and BALR. Understand their target audience, recent collections, and brand ethos. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion for the company and show that you're ready to contribute to their mission.
✨Master the Merchandising Basics
Brush up on your understanding of the fashion product lifecycle and merchandising strategies. Be prepared to discuss how you would manage product launches and quality control checks. Showing that you can connect the dots between operations and analysis will impress the interviewers.
✨Show Off Your Data Skills
Since the role involves a lot of data analysis, be ready to talk about your experience with Excel or Google Sheets. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles or internships. Highlighting your analytical skills will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Be a Problem Solver
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you resolved them. The interviewers will be looking for your proactive approach to problem-solving, especially in a fast-paced environment. Share examples that showcase your ability to think on your feet and coordinate solutions effectively.