Assistant Merchandiser

River Island; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% staff discount

Discounts via Retail Trust

onsite gym & restaurant

Flexible working

Job summary

River Island is seeking an Assistant Merchandiser to support the Merchandising team in delivering planning and trading strategies. You will maximise commercial opportunities by managing stock across all channels, driving sales through improved availability and reducing markdowns.

You will also supervise the Merchandise Admin Assistant on a day-to-day basis at our West London Head Office. The role requires previous Assistant Merchandiser experience or Senior Merchandising Admin background, and an

Qualifications

• Previous experience at Assistant Merchandiser level or Senior Merchandising Admin.
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable.
• Track record of mentoring and developing other team members.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate analysis to maximise profit across channels.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness with performance data and recommended actions.
• Responsible for stock commitment by size and availability to maximise sales.
• Manage intake forecasts and ensure stock levels align with cut-offs.
• Accurately maintain stock inventory and highlight risks and opportunities.
• Support distribution hub in delivering stock allocation to all channels.
• Ensure promotions and markdowns are correctly actioned and maintained.
• Support MAA and provide feedback to enable best performance.

Skills

Verbal reasoning

Numerical reasoning

MS Office

Organisation

Interpersonal skills

Commercial awareness

Presentation skills

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Description

The Merchandising team at River Island play a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique product across all our channels. The Assistant Merchandiser is responsible for supporting the Merchandising team in delivering the planning and trading strategy, by maximising commercial opportunities through effectively managing stock across all channels, driving sales through improved availability and reducing mark down. The Assistant Merchandiser will manage the Merchandise Admin Assistant on a day to day basis and ensure that their job is completed correctly.

Department

Menswear

Location

Head Office, Chelsea House

Key Accountabilities

• Assists the merchandising team with providing accurate, relevant analysis to maximise profit throughout all channels
• Demonstrates commercial awareness through delivering relevant and concise department and category performance, suggesting action or amendments to drive profitability
• Responsible for commitment review by size, maximising sales through availability
• Responsible for the projected intake of flow products, ensuring appropriate levels of stock to sales, in line with cut offs
• Accurate management of stock inventory. Highlighting opportunities and potential risk for all channels
• Accurately maintains Weekly Intake forecasts
• Works alongside the distribution hub to deliver the distribution strategy of stock to all channels, challenging when needed.
• Responsible for ensuring promotions and markdowns are correctly actioned and maintained.
• Accountable for maintaining accurate attribution within single view of product
• Efficient use of all merchandising systems. Assisting in creating new or improving existing material
• Uses all available sources including regular store visits, sales and margin history, comp shops, suggests risks and opportunities, proposing actions to positively impact performance
• Manages the workload of the MAA with a thorough understanding of the performance, escalating to the Merchandiser when needed
• Sets the direction and objectives forthe MAA, providing timely feedback and support to enable them to work to the best of their abilities

Key Experience Required

• Previous experience at Assistant Merchandiser level, or established Senior Merchandising Admin/Senior Allocator is required
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable
• Track record of mentoring and developing other team members

Job Role Competencies

• Good verbal and numerical reasoning skills
• Intermediate MS Office skills
• Computer literate and ability to learn new systems
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills
• Collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills
• Good commercial and market awareness
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented
• Resilient and adaptable
• Curious, continuous learning mindset
• Coaching, mentoring mindset
• Ability to present own views and assert own views
• Good presentation skills

About Us

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts. This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you

• Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
• Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
• A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
• Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
• Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
• Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
• Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
• A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
• 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment. Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. ore about this interview process, check out our hiring process below.