Assistant Merchandiser

Derek Rose; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

25 days annual leave

Staff discount

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Derek Rose is seeking an Assistant Merchandiser (Planning & Allocation) to join the Merchandising team at their Baker Street, London location. You will support planning, trading and stock management across ecommerce and retail, with a focus on allocation, replenishment and data-driven decision making.

Working with the Senior Merchandiser and Head of Merchandising, you will help shape forecasts using AI-supported planning, ensuring accuracy and commercial relevance across channels.

Qualifications

• Experience as Allocator or Junior Merchandiser in fashion/retail.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Confident in Excel (lookups, pivots, core formulas).

Responsibilities

• Own allocation and replenishment across retail and ecommerce.
• Produce weekly trading reports (sales, stock, sell-through, weeks of cover).
• Maintain range plans, buy files and size curves using historical analysis.

Skills

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Excel advanced

Data interpretation

Communication

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Shopify

Business Central

Allocation tools

AI forecasting

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Merchandiser (Planning & Allocation)

Role Type: Full Time

Department: Merchandising

Reports to: Senior Merchandiser

Location: Baker Street, London

Salary: Competitive

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded, highly analytical Assistant Merchandiser to join our Merchandising team. This is a first Assistant Merchandiser role, ideal next step for an experienced Allocator, or an Assistant Merchandiser looking for broader ownership.

Working closely with the Senior Merchandiser and Head of Merchandising, you will support planning, trading and stock management across ecommerce and retail. Allocation and replenishment sit at the heart of the role, alongside a growing share of trading, analysis and planning. As we introduce more AI-supported planning, you will help shape how we use it, keeping the data behind it accurate and making sure its recommendations make commercial sense.

Key responsibilities

Allocation and stock management

• Own day-to-day allocation and replenishment across retail, ecommerce and other stock locations.
• Review system-generated recommendations against demand, store capacity, launch plans and commercial priorities.
• Manage exceptions, stock imbalances and availability risks, and recommend transfers and replenishment.
• Maintain allocation parameters, store profiles, size curves and minimum presentation levels.
• Work with Retail, Ecommerce, Operations and the Congleton warehouse so stock actions happen accurately and on time.

Trading and analysis

• Produce weekly trading reports on sales, stock, sell-through, weeks of cover, intake, margin and availability.
• Analyse product performance, monitor best and slow sellers and broken sizes, and give clear, actionable recommendations.
• Support in-season reforecasting and track agreed trade actions through to their impact.

Planning and forecasting

• Maintain WSSIs and support seasonal OTB planning.
• Maintain range plans, buy files and size curves, using historical analysis to support buy, pricing and margin decisions.
• Monitor intake against launch dates and flag delays or stock risks.

Systems, data and accuracy

• Maintain accurate product, stock and merchandising data across files and systems.
• Use AI tools to support forecasting, allocation and reporting, checking outputs and escalating anything that does not reflect commercial reality.
• Carry out SKU, pricing and margin checks ahead of launches, promotions and markdowns.

About you

• Experience as an Allocator, Merchandising Administration Assistant or Junior Assistant Merchandiser in fashion, luxury, lifestyle or retail.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Confident in Excel, including lookups, pivot tables and core formulas.
• Good understanding of sell-through, stock cover and margin, with some exposure to OTB and WSSIs.
• Commercially curious and able to turn data into practical recommendations.
• Comfortable with planning systems and new technology, and willing to question results that look wrong.
• Organised, calm under deadlines and a clear communicator across teams.
• Desirable: Power BI, Business Central, Shopify, allocation tools or AI-supported forecasting.

What success looks like

• Stock reaches the right channel or location at the right time, and exceptions are acted on quickly.
• Weekly reporting and WSSIs are reliable, timely and commercially useful.
• System recommendations are properly checked, and time spent on manual tasks steadily reduces.
• Allocation runs smoothly and independently, giving the wider team more time for trading, forecasting and commercial decisions.

What we offer

• Pension contribution.
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Generous staff discount and regular sample sales.
• Confidential wellbeing and mental health support service.
• Office social events.