Merchandising Assistant Merchandising · Coleshill, Warwickshire

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. The Works literally means everything. Whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching. 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.

As a Merchandising Assistant you will play a key role in bringing our brand’s vision to life – transforming creative ideas into a seamless shopping experience for customers. Sitting at the heart of our Supply Chain team you will help shape what ends up on the store floor or website, ensuring the right products are in the right place, at the right time. This role goes beyond spreadsheets and stock counts – it’s about understanding customer behaviour, spotting trends before they take off, and working collaboratively to drive commercial success. By supporting everything from sales analysis and stock planning to supplier communications and product launches, you will help to create ranges that not only meet demand but inspire it. With a blend of analytical thinking, creativity, and strong organisational skills, you’ll play an essential part in delivering a brand experience that resonates with customers – and keeps them coming back.

Your Mission

• Take ownership of deliveries: Monitoring deliveries and stock levels working with suppliers accordingly.
• Sign off shipments: In accordance with critical path and stock target parameters.
• Review Distribution Centre and store stock: Weekly reviews to ensure optimisation of stock in stores and DC.
• Raise and manage new orders on the system.
• Attention to detail on ensuring all information is correctly attributed in the system for analysis.
• Prepare weekly sales and stock performance reports.
• Provide relevant analysis: As required to support correct business decisions.
• Highlight lines and recommend actions: based on over and under-performing lines.
• Assist with range planning and product sign offs.
• Work closely with the Allocation team to ensure allocation reflects range planning and store distribution: set up the product teams.
• Manage exceptions reporting within Slimstock: to proactively support stock management and optimise sales.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Your tech-savvy: You have a strong command of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook, and you're always excited to dive into new systems and expand your skills.
• Numbers don’t scare you: You enjoy analysing data, spotting trends, and using insights to drive smart decisions that make an impact.
• Experience in retail: Whether in the retail sector or a customer-facing role, you know what great service looks like and always bring positivity, energy, and a can-do attitude to every interaction.
• Attention to Detail: You have a sharp eye for the finer details, ensuring everything is accurate and done right the first time.

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.
• 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!