Merchandiser

Job Description

MERCHANDISE MANAGEMENT :
• Develop seasonal and monthly inventory position to Merchandise and Buying Teams and drive the OTB process, providing regular visibility to inventory levels to achieve targets, sales and margin goals.
• Support brand, merchandising and buying teams in budgeting sales and margin by store and forecasting stock at cost by brand/season/period based on clearance strategy and intake schedule.
• Initiate markdown and promotional strategies to maximize profitability on the life of an item or product category.
• Manage monthly vendor performance and provide the appropriate level of analysis during a specific season or promotion to assist buyers in evaluating opportunities and issues.
• Deliver merchandise analysis at store and department level to inform and guide decision making, including weekly analysis and insights into product and store sales performance.
• Collaborate with shipping and logistics to prioritize and manage inventory and coordinate timely delivery of product to stores for successful launch and selling campaigns throughout the season.
• Preform complex analysis through creation of excel-based spreadsheets to support assortment, pricing and inventory productivity analysis.
• Provide the appropriate level of analysis during a specific season or promotion.
• Analyze trading KPIs against targets and produce reports .
• Arrange for the delivery of products at optimal cost in line with required timelines .

STOCK MANAGEMENT:
• Forecast and develop reports to develop optimum stock levels
• Develop and maintain efficient merchandise transfer process to optimize stock movement, maximizing full price sales while minimizing markdowns.
• Assist in re-buys, cancellation, stock transfers across outlets, OTB and markdown management, improving service level.
• Monitor stock flow to stores, both new intake and replenishment.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION:
• Conduct in-depth range and promotional planning, analyzing historic performance and influencing pricing propositions.
• Prepare seasonal range plan by grade pre & post buying process.
• Plan and forecast merchandise buys based on historical data, recurring buys and current inventory levels.
• Review stock to sales ratio, respond to sales trends and ensure plan sales, plan markups and plan markdowns are achieved
• Analyze trading KPIs against targets and provide weekly updates to Brands & Buying Manager.

FINANCIAL CONTROLS AND PROFITABILITY MANAGEMENT
• Conduct quantitative analysis and insights to optimize business profitability, monetize new opportunities and identify risks.
• Collaborate with buyers to develop markdown recommendations to achieve financial targets
• Work with the Merchandising Manager and the Senior Merchandiser, propose actions based on this, to maximize profitability.
• Analyze every aspect of bestsellers (bestselling price points, colors or styles) and ensuring that bestsellers reach their full potential.
• Monitor slow sellers and taking action to reduce prices, set promotions or stock relocation as necessary.