Strategic Merchandiser

Job Purpose

The Strategic Merchandiser supports the business on sales opportunities, future range planning, buy planning, stock control and management, phasing of product launches, and commercial activity across in-store, digital platforms and Market Places

This new role for the business would suit a Buying and Merchandising professional with a proven track record in driving sales, category and product opportunities and profitability through commercial knowledge and analysis

Reporting into the MD, this role is key in supporting the Product Director, Commercial Director, and Finance Director, providing business driven insights based on commercial and proven analytics, with the goal of maximising sales and profitability. This role is 5 days a week based in the Head Office.

This role is focused on analysing data and understanding sales results and projections, analysing market campaign contribution and success, and detecting and predicting commercial movement

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Analysis and Business Performance

Perform deep-dive analysis to maximise our product range potential and overall business performance

Identify winners and losers based on proven and impartial analysis and tools, and clearly present these at key planning and buying meetings

Develop analytical tools to understand how new initiatives impact pricing promotions and other merchandising levers that drive top and bottom line, traffic, conversion, and loyalty

Continuously review merchandising analytics to improve our inventory performance / sell-through across stock types with weekly & monthly actions

Analyse market performance trends, demographic trends, pricing strategies, and competitor activities to anticipate business and range needs to input into product ranges and marketing activities

Monitor stock holding and propose markdowns, promotions, price changes, clear outs, marketplace opportunities, etc, to ensure stock levels are maintained at the required business need

Action and insights

Create actionable insights on inventory, sales performance and customer data to contribute to the development of new sales initiatives for both retail, on-line and market place opportunities

Recommend promotional, pricing and other merchandising activities to key stakeholders and leadership team that directly contributes to improved sales and category performance, including

Recommend activities to drive sales and clear any excess inventory, not only relying on heavy discounting and protecting brand positioning

Participate in budget and forecasting meetings and reviews and provide insights and analysis to the leadership team to build yearly and longer term business plans

Work with Commercial team to provide guidance and Influence for the trading and promotional calendar

Technical Skills & Qualifications

Extremely strong computer skills, in particular, Excel and other MS Office applications. Knowledge of reporting tools is desirable.

Proven ability to take complex business analyses and projects from concept to completion and make results accessible, easily understandable and relevant to business users at all levels.

Integrates market and shopping trends, data and information into forecasts, plans, models and recommendations

Proven ability to drive through proposals with leadership team and key stakeholders across the business

Capable of diving into the detail to solve complex issues while also seeing the bigger commercial picture

Knowledge & Experience

At least 4 years' experience in a Merchandising / Planning in a non FMCG retail business

The ability to prioritise and react positively to working under pressure and with changing demands.

Positive, enthusiastic, hardworking and a team player and team leader with an open-minded approach.

Excellent communicator with great interpersonal skills, with the ability to create strong working relationships within all levels of the business

Able to play a key and influential role working with others, in groups, in cross-functional settings and with diverse stakeholders internally and externally

Able to individually manage your own projects, whilst collaborating closely within the wider teams

Dedicated to continuous improvement; challenges existing thinking and has the confidence to make recommendations and drive projects forward