At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage stock planning and forecasting for home fragrance and beauty products.
- Company: Established business with a beautiful portfolio and strong retail partnerships.
- Benefits: Gain ownership of stock management and work in a collaborative team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with leading UK retailers and international suppliers.
- Why this job: Combine your analytical skills with creativity in the home and lifestyle sector.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in merchandising or stock planning, strong Excel skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
The Opportunity
We are working with a well-established and highly respected business specialising in home fragrance, home accessories, beauty and gifting to appoint an experienced Merchandiser / Stock Planner for a 12-month maternity cover contract. With an impressive heritage and partnerships with some of the UK's best-known retailers, this business develops and supplies a beautiful range of products designed for the home, working with international manufacturers and leading UK retail partners.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who loves the analytical and commercial side of merchandising but would also enjoy working with creative, design-led products in the home and lifestyle space. You'll play a key role in ensuring products are available at the right time, taking ownership of stock planning, forecasting, orders and stock management across multiple retail accounts. Working closely with commercial, product development and supply teams, you'll help keep everything running smoothly from production through to delivery.
We're open to candidates from both retail and supplier-side backgrounds, across any product category. What's important is your ability to manage the numbers, anticipate demand and make commercially sound decisions.
What You'll Be Doing
- Managing stock planning, forecasting and stock availability across multiple retail accounts.
- Analysing sales performance, stock levels and run-rates to support accurate forecasting and purchasing decisions.
- Building and maintaining seasonal budgets, sales forecasts and trading plans.
- Managing purchase orders, stock commitments and delivery schedules to ensure products arrive on time.
- Identifying potential stock shortages, excess inventory and opportunities to improve stock efficiency.
- Working closely with overseas suppliers and factories to monitor production schedules and deliveries.
- Monitoring costings, margins and pricing to support commercial performance.
- Managing minimum order quantities, componentry and stock liabilities.
- Producing and analysing sales, stock, intake and margin reports.
- Collaborating with product development, design and commercial teams to ensure critical paths and customer requirements are met.
What We're Looking For
We're keen to speak with experienced Merchandisers, Merchandise Planners or Stock Planners who enjoy working with data, managing stock and making commercially informed decisions. Ideally, you'll bring:
- At least 3 years' experience in merchandising, merchandise planning, stock planning or a closely related role.
- Experience gained within either a retail or supplier-side business.
- Strong stock planning, forecasting and inventory management experience.
- Excellent Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups and trading models.
- Confidence analysing sales, stock, margins and trading performance.
- Experience managing purchase orders, supplier relationships and delivery schedules.
- An understanding of product costings, landed costs and FOB pricing.
- Experience using an ERP or stock management system.
- Strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Experience working with overseas factories, particularly in China or Vietnam, would be advantageous but not essential.
You don't need to have worked within home fragrance, beauty or home accessories previously. We're much more interested in your stock planning and merchandising experience, along with your enthusiasm for working with a creative, product-led business.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a great opportunity to join an established business with an impressive retail customer base and a beautiful portfolio of home fragrance, home accessories and gifting products. You'll have genuine ownership of stock planning and forecasting, working alongside a collaborative team that brings products from initial concept and design through to the shelves of some of the UK's leading retailers. If you enjoy working with numbers, solving stock challenges and would love to apply your merchandising expertise within the home and lifestyle sector, this could be a fantastic next move.
We would love to respond to every application however due to the volume of applications we receive this isn't always possible. If you have not heard within 2 weeks of applying, please assume on this occasion that your application has not been shortlisted. We may retain your CV to contact you about future employment opportunities that are being managed by The Growth Foundation Talent. The Growth Foundation Talent is deeply committed to building a diverse & inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Stock Planner (Merchandiser) – Home Fragrance & Beauty in London employer: The Growth Foundation
As a leading Digital Marketing Agency in the Construction and Built Environment sectors, our client offers an exceptional work environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, they provide a generous training budget, hybrid working options, and a vibrant culture filled with team socials and annual trips. Located in Central London or Northampton, this is an ideal opportunity for those looking to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive and dynamic workplace.
