At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage stock and ensure the right products are available at the right time.
- Company: Join The Works, a company that inspires creativity and learning.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, 25% discount, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product availability and customer experience.
- Qualifications: Strong analytical skills and a passion for teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 33000 £ per year.
Location
Hybrid: 1-2 days at our Support Centre in Coleshill, Birmingham.
Why The Works?
We don’t just sell products.
We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.
This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.
Become a Merchandiser
As a Merchandiser, you play a crucial role in ensuring that the right products are available at the right time, in the right place, and in the right quantities.
Using data and insight, you plan and manage stock effectively to drive sales, protect margins, and contribute to strong commercial performance.
You collaborate closely with Buyers, Planners, and suppliers to build well-balanced ranges that meet customer demand while remaining commercially sound. From planning new launches to reviewing performance and adjusting forecasts, your decisions directly influence both the customer experience and overall business success.
By keeping a close eye on trends, identifying opportunities and risks, and maintaining smooth stock flow, you help create a consistent and engaging product offer that supports our wider purpose. Your ability to interpret data and shape strategic decisions ensures we continue to deliver a compelling product range that keeps customers returning and drives long-term growth.
Your Mission
- Oversee timely delivery of stock: Ensure stock reaches the warehouse on time, maximising availability and aligning with agreed KPIs and timelines across all channels.
- Support on-time delivery: Drive the achievement of merchandising milestones within the critical path, addressing issues swiftly and negotiating confidently with suppliers to ensure smooth operations.
- Manage stock budgets effectively: Maintain the right stock levels throughout the year, especially during peak periods like new launches, Christmas, and promotions, ensuring the business is always ready to deliver.
- Take responsibility for order management: Ensure all orders stay within the set parameters and align with the critical path, helping to keep everything running efficiently.
- Own and optimise forecasts: Take charge of category, range, and SKU-level forecasts to ensure sales, stock holding, margin, and availability are maximised to support business success.
- Maintain WSSI and line card management: Update and manage the WSSI, with experience in OTB and budget management, ensuring stock and finances stay aligned with business goals.
- Collaborate on product range planning: Work closely with the Buyer (and Senior Merchandiser) to present compelling product ranges, factoring in budget, space, ranking, buy quantities, and intake phasing.
- Support range and promotional analysis: Use attribute analysis to drive insightful recommendations for range reviews and promotional strategies, ensuring we’re always ahead of the market.
- Analyse weekly trading performance: Identify challenges and opportunities, providing clear, actionable insights to maximise profitability and optimise product performance.
- Deliver sales in line with strategy: Drive sales in accordance with the budget and strategic objectives, ensuring the business continues to meet its targets.
- Coach and develop your team: Inspire and develop your direct reports, helping them reach their full potential and boosting overall performance across the team.
Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart
- Strong Analytical Skills: The ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to optimise stock, sales, and availability.
- Attention to Detail: Accuracy in managing stock levels, orders, and forecasts, ensuring that everything aligns with business needs and customer demand.
- Commercial Awareness: Understanding the bigger picture of the business, knowing how sales, margin, and stock influence performance, and aligning your actions with company goals.
- Organisation & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively, especially during busy periods, while maintaining high standards.
- Effective Communication: Clear and confident communication with internal teams (e.g., Buyers, Planners) and external suppliers to ensure smooth processes.
- IT Proficiency: Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel (or other data analysis tools) and merchandising systems to track performance and make informed decisions.
- Team Collaboration: A team player who works well with others, whether it’s within the merchandising team or across departments like buying, logistics, and marketing.
- Adaptability: Flexible and adaptable, able to adjust plans and strategies based on changing market conditions or customer trends.
Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’
- 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
- MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more
- Family Friendly Leave - Enjoy some time well spent with enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
- Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
- Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days
- Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
- Stream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
- Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
- 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
- Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs
- And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.
Our Purpose
To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play
Our Values
We are Crafty | Smart with what we've got.
We are Caring | Heart in every action.
We are Can-do | Energy that gets it done.
We Listen. We Care
Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.
Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments
At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term).
We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!
We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play. Because when people spend time doing what they love, it’s Time Well Spent. And with the right passion - It All Starts With You.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Merchandiser employer: The Works Stores Ltd
The Works is an exceptional employer, recognised as the 10th Best Big Company to Work For in 2024, offering a vibrant work culture that inspires creativity and learning. With generous benefits including a 25% colleague discount, enhanced family leave, and access to the Can-Do Academy for professional development, employees are empowered to grow and thrive. Located in Coleshill, Birmingham, the hybrid working model fosters flexibility while ensuring meaningful engagement across teams, making it a truly rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Merchandiser
✨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 The Works Stores Ltd, 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 The Works Stores Ltd!
We think you need these skills to ace Merchandiser
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 The Works Stores Ltd, 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 The Works Stores Ltd 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 The Works Stores Ltd that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Works Stores Ltd
✨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!
