Responsible for the forecasting and planning process, supporting the Merchandising Director to make informed budgeting decisions
- Works cross functionally to agree and plan financial building blocks in line with the product, channel and customer strategy
- Reports and presents effectively on seasonal lessons learnt, drawing out key actionable insights that drive profit for the business
- Responsible for detailed category, range and option planning at to support a commercial buy relevant to the target customer
- Challenges option width and depth, margin and price architecture to ensure selections are aligned to strategy
- Maintains an accurate WSSI forecast in line with current trade and future events, drives action through relevant risk and opportunity analysis
- Supports Merchandising Director in capex modelling and space planning
Trading
- Uses internal and external resources to identify key areas of risk and opportunity
- Leads trade meetings to challenge and drive performance to optimise sales and stock position
- Maintains comprehensive knowledge of product area and understands the key factors influencing trade
- Works in partnership with buying team to ensure OTB and risk is managed effectively
- Knows which levers to pull to influence trade and drive profit, collaborates cross functionally to drive next actions
Stock optimisation
- Responsible for stock across continuity and seasonal, demonstrating proven results in improving merchandising KPIs
- Maintains OTB control over product areas, reviewing and managing stock ordering decisions in line with the WSSI
- Collaborates with buying to continually review the range and identify opportunities for de-ranging, de-listing or enhancing the product offer
- Carries out a seasonal continuity stock review using pareto analysis to tackle aged and inefficient stock levels
- Responsible for setting, measuring and achieving key stock metric targets, namely: never out of stock targets, pareto analysis, aged stock, availability targets, ISNOS, cover and lost sales
Sale and promotions
- Owns markdown and promotions in line with business strategy
- Uses analysis to dictate mark down depth strategy to maximise margin and sell thru
- Minimises terminal stock by driving sell thru and maximising availability in all channels
Operational support
- Over-sees price change process, ensuring intake margins are in line with budget and products are appropriately priced for the market
- Works with operations and logistics teams to ensure stock processes are planned, managed and executed efficiently (RTVs, price changes, intake forecasts, transfers)
- Supplies long term forecasts to support with planning of logistical resource and dc space planning
Data and tools
- Identifies training needs as well as conducts impactful training sessions on systems and tools
- Uses data to identify and communicate relevant and accurate business information
- Establishes a thorough understanding of systems and reporting tools
- Assists in the development, testing, training and implementation of new systems and reporting tools
Management
- Manages, trains and develops team – delegating appropriately and up-skilling team to realise potential
- Cascades relevant business information, shares knowledge and maintains regular communication through 1:1s and as a team
- Motivates, recognises successes and gives positive feedback
- Tackles poor performance head on; is able to have difficult conversations and deliver a development plan when necessary
- Carries out regular performance reviews and objective setting meetings
- Actively recruits high quality team members and delivers a 360 induction plan ensuring new team member is properly on-boarded within their probation period
- Supports senior team by identifying areas of inefficiency and providing solutions to add value
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Previous Merchandising experience in a fast-paced retailer
- Motivates and inspires others
- Translates strategy into action
- Takes accountability and drives decision making
- Presents clearly and with conviction
- Builds high performing teams
- Thinks customer first
- Numerical and analytical
- Keen eye for detail, can get to the core of the problem quickly
- Clear communicator
- Systems savvy