- Monday to Friday
- Office based
- 7+ years experience in Merchandising
Talent Guardian is recruiting a Merchandiser/ Senior Merchandiser for an established fashion and home retailer.
This is an opportunity to take ownership of divisional planning and trading, using your commercial insight to drive sales, maximise margin and deliver strong stock performance.
The role
You'll lead planning, trading and stock management across your division, making sure the right products are in the right places at the right time. You'll monitor performance closely, respond to changing trading conditions and act on opportunities to improve sales, profit and stock availability.
What you'll be doing
- Develop and deliver divisional and product strategies for sales, profit and stock, using historical performance, trends and commercial insight.
- Lead range, sales, space and profit planning, working to critical path timelines.
- Ensure range and product briefs are delivered on time, with the right balance, depth and breadth of assortment at store level.
- Plan cost prices, selling prices and volumes in line with agreed parameters and selling periods.
- Monitor sales, stock, space and profit performance, acting quickly to address risks and maximise opportunities.
- Plan and review promotional activity to support range plans and commercial objectives.
- Manage stock availability through allocation, replenishment and open-to-buy control, adjusting intake to reflect performance.
- Plan monthly divisional stock requirements, ensuring product, volume and timing support agreed objectives.
- Build strong supplier relationships and support on-time, in-full delivery in line with company standards.
- Use store visits, portfolio analysis and competitor insight to identify opportunities.
- Lead and develop the Allocator team, promoting accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement.
What we're looking for
- Merchandising experience at Merchandiser or Senior Merchandiser level at least 7+ years experience.
- Strong commercial awareness and confidence using sales, stock and profit data to guide decisions.
- Experience with range planning, stock management, allocation and replenishment.
- The ability to plan ahead while responding quickly to changing performance.
- Strong organisation and communication skills, with the confidence to work across teams and with suppliers.
- Experience leading, supporting or developing colleagues.
If you're commercially minded, passionate about retail and ready for a new challenge, we'd like to hear from you.
Merchandiser in Carlisle employer: Talent Guardian Careers
Join a well-established food manufacturer located on the picturesque Wiltshire, Berkshire and Hampshire border, where your contributions as a Site Engineer will be truly valued. With a competitive salary package, including a generous night shift bonus, and a supportive work culture that fosters employee growth, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact within a close-knit engineering team. This role not only offers hands-on experience but also significant potential for career advancement in a thriving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser in Carlisle
✨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 Talent Guardian Careers, 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 Talent Guardian Careers!
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 Talent Guardian Careers, 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 Talent Guardian Careers 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 Talent Guardian Careers that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Talent Guardian Careers
✨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!
