Assistant Merchandiser

JD GROUP; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

JD GROUP in the United Kingdom is seeking an energetic Assistant Merchandiser to support the Merchandising team in achieving sales, profit and stock targets. The role focuses on stock availability, range planning, and collaborative work with Merchandisers and Buyers to optimise product placement across stores and online channels.

The successful candidate will interpret data, maintain accurate reports, and help drive efficient intake, ordering and pricing activities to maximise commercial

Qualifications

• Analytical and numerate with strong data interpretation skills.
• Proficient in Excel with intermediate/advanced functions.
• Able to relate and communicate with colleagues at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Support with product mix analysis and pack reporting.
• Assist in formulating range plans at store level with Merchandiser/Buyer.
• Create accurate size ratios for all buys and support order processes.
• Reconcile supplier order books and communicate anomalies for bigger brands.
• Collate bookings and review intake to ensure optimal stock placement.
• Prepare weekly trade focus and support actions in line with KPIs.
• Conduct store visits and feedback to improve stock and performance.

Skills

Analytical

Excel proficiency

Data-driven

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Initiative

Learning mindset

Tools

Shogun

Planogram

Selektron

Job description

Assistant Merchandiser

Role Overview

The Assistant Merchandiser (AM) plays a key role within the Merchandising function, providing vital support to the Merchandising team to achieve optimum efficiency and to deliver the department plan on customer, sales, and profit.

The AM takes responsibility for ensuring the right stock and intake is available for our customers, continually looking for opportunities to maximise the potential of both product and stores, whilst working collaboratively within the Merchandising team and key areas of the business.

Responsibilities

Plan

• Support with product mix and sign off pack reporting and analysis.
• Assist in the formulation of the range plan at store level with the Merchandiser/Buyer

Order

• Create accurate size ratios for all buys.
• Ensure planners are accurate to support order raising process.
• Support Merchandise Assistants on creating purchase orders via upload.
• Reconcile supplier order books and communicate all anomalies, on bigger brands.

Stock

• Collate bookings with Buying team.
• Prioritise intake and review booked lines to ensure best stock placement, with guidance from the Merchandiser.
• Establish working relationships with supplier base.

Trade

• Review reporting and collate key findings in preparation for department trade email. Compile focus for the week for yourself and Merchandise Assistant.
• Review sales analysis to identify key trade actions. Suggest cancellation, rephasing and markdown activity to Merchandiser.
• Identify priority stores for the week, review and propose actions.
• New / re-fit stores - analysis of performance
• Over / under performing stores
• Over / under optioned stores
• Trading team branch feedback
• Identify lines to IBT and fast track.
• Propose distribution amends to Buying and Merchandiser.
• Check and approve weekly divisional price changes prior to upload.
• Review branch actions for the Merchandise Assistant to complete.
• Undertake store visits, collates report and feedback.
• Help build new store stock package and track progress.
• Set up and review Linecards.
• Identify ideal level actions.
• Check and action range plan to ensure stores hit planned options.
• Oversee Merchandise Assistant’s weekly tasks.
• Establish collaborative working relationships within teams across functions.
• Carry out any ad-hoc analysis as required.

Role objectives and KPIs

To support the Merchandising team to effectively deliver departmental goals and KPIs – sales, profit, and stock - across all channels (stores and digital), maximising commercial opportunities.

Core competencies

2.1 Working with People 3.1 Relating and Networking 4.1 Writing and Reporting 4.3 Analysing 5.1 Learning and Researching

6.1. Planning and Organising

Skills and experience

• Analytical, data driven and highly numerate.
• Keen eye for detail and ability to accurately enter and check data.
• Enthusiastic about JD, its brands and customer.
• Good knowledge of Excel.
• Confident communicator able to build relationships at all levels.
• Able to take ownership of work and use initiative to deliver on key responsibilities.
• Good teamwork skills, being able to work collaboratively to reach a common goal, sharing information and supporting colleagues.
• Positive, flexible, and responsive to business needs.
• Curious with a continuous learning mindset.

Training requirements for role

• GUI
• Shogun
• Intermediate Excel
• Good trade knowledge
• Sign off attendance
• Size ratios - ratio tool
• Planner (Planogram)
• Purchase order creation process - PO upload
• Reconcile process
• Bookings & weekly intake
• Manage trade actions
• Weekly divisional price changes
• Ideal management tool
• Linecards
• Oversees MA weekly tasks
• Store visits
• New store reviews
• Branch actions
• Selektron
• Sales Analysis
• Cost prices

Training is on-the-job shadowing supported by online resources. Where relevant, face to face training on key tools, systems or processes will be arranged.