At a Glance
- Tasks: Support merchandising strategy and maximise profits while collaborating with a dynamic team.
- Company: Join White Stuff, a vibrant brand known for its unique designs and supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday, discounts, and bonuses.
- Other info: Be part of a sociable team that values creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Why this job: Make an impact in retail while developing your skills in a fun environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in merchandising or retail, strong communication, and organisational skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to overall merchandising planning and trading strategy, with the customer and brand in mind.
- Support the merchandiser in development of seasonal strategy by concession, reflecting company strategy and maximizing department profit performance.
- Review concession weekly budgets under the guidance of the merchandiser.
- Assist in planning options for each concession – online and stores.
- Allocate right stock at the right time to each concession and store.
- Collate and produce weekly trade analysis for each concession to support delivering maximum profit for the season, irrespective of fluctuating trends, retail climate, and internal and external circumstances.
- Conduct weekly trade catch‑ups with each concession – maintain strong relationships, manage critical path, monitor ranking across brands, and suggest improvements.
- Update merchandising and wider leadership team on concession lessons learned that could improve sales across other channels.
- Manage stock by channel – drive sell‑through and profit.
- Coordinate despatch forecast with the DC team and each concession.
- Handle daily despatch alongside the operations team to ensure lines are enriched and compliant across concessions.
- Manage markdown by concession – evaluate impact of different timings.
- Manage promotions with concessions.
- Support area managers and VM team with concession actions to drive trade and review seasonal guidelines for concession shops.
- Regularly review size ratios and recommend next season's allocations.
- Manage enrichment critical path alongside operations team.
- Provide weekly updates to leadership team regarding concessions trade.
Training & Development
- Support Merchandise function in delivery of training for MAA’s and new Assistant Merchandisers.
Qualifications & Experience
- Currently working as an Assistant Merchandiser or Senior MAA, ideally within the retail industry.
- Passion and enthusiasm for product, keen interest in our product categories, ability to multitask and work independently in a fast‑paced environment, keen eye for detail and accuracy, excellent time management, communication, and organisational skills.
- Demonstrate commercial awareness with understanding of consumer trends and competitors.
- Proactively manage workload, prioritise, and delegate when necessary.
- Communicate accurately, clearly, and concisely both in writing and verbally.
- Good problem‑solving skills.
- Strong team‑working skills, able to build positive cross‑functional relationships.
- Initiative and good decision‑making skills.
- Experience mentoring an Allocator or Merchandising Admin Assistant, with ability to develop and coach others (preferred but not essential).
- Excellent PC skills, including intermediate to advanced Excel.
About White Stuff
White Stuff was established in 1985 through a simple idea. This idea grew and now we have shops and concessions in the UK and internationally, selling women's and men's clothing as well as beautiful accessories and homeware. Our original prints (all designed in house), intricate details and considered design touches reflect our personality and make us subtly distinctive. Our people are at the heart of our brand, constantly moving and driving us forward. We’re sociable, talented and like‑minded, and we’re not hierarchical or political in how we do business. We encourage entrepreneurial ideas and accountability at all levels.
Benefits
- Hybrid working
- Quarterly/Annual bonus opportunity
- Up to 25 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays
- 2 extra (paid) days off per year to volunteer in the local community
- 50% discount
- Subsidised BUPA Dental Insurance
- Healthcare cash plan and Life Assurance
- Interest free season ticket loan
- Pension Contribution
Assistant Merchandiser in City of Westminster employer: White Stuff
White Stuff is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where creativity and collaboration thrive. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer comprehensive training opportunities, hybrid working arrangements, and generous benefits including up to 25 days of holiday, a quarterly bonus, and a commitment to community volunteering. Our supportive environment encourages entrepreneurial ideas and accountability, making it a rewarding place for those passionate about retail and merchandising.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Merchandiser in City of Westminster
✨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 White Stuff, 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 White Stuff!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Merchandiser in City of Westminster
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 White Stuff, 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 White Stuff 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 White Stuff that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at White Stuff
✨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!
