Junior Merchandiser

Elite Personnel Ltd; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A fashion retail company in Birmingham is seeking a Junior Merchandiser to support the Merchandising team by managing designated areas and ensuring effective trading and stock distribution. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate across departments. This role is critical to delivering sales and profit targets.

Qualifications

• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Ability to manage direct reports in line with company policies.
• Highly analytical and organized with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of fashion retail environments.
• Proactive mindset with initiative and suggestion capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Take full merchandising responsibility for designated areas.
• Assist in the preparation of strategy packs.
• Continuously review performance against WSSI.
• Monitor and review stock distribution.
• Support Branch Merchandising with stock packages.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Analytical thinking

Detail-oriented

Commercial awareness

Job description

Overview

The Junior Merchandiser supports the Merchandising team by taking ownership of selected areas within the department and ensuring smooth pre-season planning, effective in-season trading, and optimal stock distribution. Working closely with Buying, Branch Merchandising, and other internal teams, the Junior Merchandiser plays a key role in helping the business deliver sales, profit, and stock targets.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Season Planning

• Take full merchandising responsibility for designated areas within the department, supporting the Senior Merchandiser.
• Assist in the preparation of strategy packs, ensuring accurate product attribution.
• Conduct detailed pre-season analysis aligned with the buying timeline.
• Collaborate with Buying to help develop seasonal strategy and support the creation of WSSI plans with relevant KPIs.
• Identify and propose repeat/core lines for store and web channels to ensure maximum availability and minimal terminal stock.
• Analyse monthly bestsellers, highlighting key opportunities to the Buying team.
• Ensure all new product options are booked in line with the agreed timeline, monitoring against option plans and OTB.
• Deliver ad hoc analysis as required by the Buying and Merchandising teams.

WSSI & Trading

• Continuously review performance against WSSI across departments, seasons, and channels, taking action to optimise sales and margin.
• Share weekly trading KPIs with Buying, highlighting risks to sales and performance.
• Monitor in-season OTB and ensure quick lead-time options are aligned with departmental plans.
• Maintain visibility of all outstanding stock commitments and negotiate delivery changes, cost price adjustments, etc., as needed.
• Track and analyse in-season performance against last year and plan, focusing on key product building blocks.

Goods In & Distribution

• Monitor and review stock distribution, working with Branch Merchandising and warehouse teams to rebalance between stores and online as needed.
• Track WH stock and optimise sell-through %, taking proactive steps to protect margin.
• Support Branch Merchandising by advising on stock packages for key stores.

Personal Requirements

• Strong collaboration and communication skills; able to work cross-functionally with all departments.
• Ability to manage direct reports in line with company policies.
• Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and organised with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of fashion retail environments.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to take initiative and suggest improvements.