Merchandiser

FatFace; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

FatFace discount

Next discount

Gym membership

Cycle to work

EV scheme

Perkbox access

Brand discounts

Eye care

Period products

EAP support

Job summary

FatFace is seeking a Merchandiser in Havant to drive the commercial performance of categories through disciplined stock management, financial planning and strong in-season trading. You will collaborate with Buying, Design and cross-functional teams to ensure ranges hit budget, timelines and brand objectives.

Working in a hybrid pattern (3 days in the office), you will lead category strategy, manage Open-to-Buy and support junior team members while delivering sustainable growth for our lifestyle

Qualifications

• Proven merchandising experience in retail.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, and trading capabilities.
• Analytical and clear, concise communication within cross-functional teams.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across departments.

Responsibilities

• Produce monthly margin rolls and financial summaries for owned categories.
• Own and manage Category Planning (Cat Plan) tools and stock walks.
• Manage Open to Buy (OTB) for owned categories to balance availability, margin, and cash flow.
• Develop and present markdown and promotional proposals, reviewing performance post event.
• Lead range sign-off meetings with Buying, Design and Technical teams.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support quality, availability and growth.

Skills

Merchandising experience

Financial planning

Trading experience

Analytical skills

Communication

Tools

Merchandising systems

Job description

Contract Type: Full-Time (35 hours), Fixed-Term (9 months)

Working Arrangements/Pattern: Monday-Friday (hybrid working 3 days in the office)

Salary Banding: From £40k

Who are we?

For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life.

Our mission statement:

Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always.

Our Product formula:

Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified.

We are proud to have featured in the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work 2026 and best places to work for women 2025.

Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces.

Role Summary

The Merchandiser is responsible for delivering the commercial performance of their categories through effective financial planning, disciplined stock management, and strong in season trading. Working in close partnership with Buying, Design, and cross functional teams, the Merchandiser ensures product ranges are delivered on time, to budget, and aligned with seasonal and brand objectives. The role owns category strategy, trading decisions, and supplier collaboration, while developing and supporting junior team members.

Role Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Performance Management

• Produce monthly margin rolls and financial summaries for owned categories.


• Own and manage Category Planning (Cat Plan) tools and stock walk‑throughs, ensuring accuracy of intake, spend, sales, markdown, and terminal stock.


• Measure actuals versus plan, identifying risks and opportunities and proposing action.


• Manage Open to Buy (OTB) for owned categories to balance availability, margin, and cash flow.


• Develop and present markdown and promotional proposals, reviewing performance post event.

Strategy & Category Ownership

• Lead strategy discussions for owned categories, providing clear financial and commercial direction.


• Deliver robust financial category plans aligned to departmental targets.


• Prepare business cases for new product areas and growth opportunities.


• Support collaborations and category initiatives.


• Accountable for product strategies relating to seasonal peaks, space changes, new stores, and additional channels.

Systems & Web Readiness (NEXT Product System)

• Set up line flows and load pre‑season budgets accurately in the NEXT product system.


• Provide direction on launch strategies such as Early Release and Mid Phase Drops.


• Accountable for delivering Web Readiness and Publishing KPIs across owned categories.

Range Planning & Product Critical Path

• Deliver lessons learnt analysis to improve future range planning decisions.


• Complete option planning aligned to thumbnails and financial plans.

Lead ranging meetings from a merchandising perspective to ensure ranges are ranked and aligned to budget.

• Finalise estimates and distributions using competition curves.


• Own collation of signoff packs, including line level attribution and buy data.


• Lead range sign-off meetings in partnership with Buying, Design, and Technical teams.


• Own relationships with Partner teams and NEXT Branch Merchandising, ensuring clear communication of product decisions.

Contracts, Intake & Critical Path

• Accountable for merchandising actions within the Contract Tracker to ensure delivery against agreed spend and critical path.


• Monitor intake and critical path activity across categories to achieve on time launch readiness.

Trading & In Season Management

• Set clear weekly trading priorities for owned categories.


• Maintain and accurately update the budget tracker on a weekly basis.


• Summarise trade performance and distribute insights to the wider product and leadership teams.


• Own topline and category commentary within trade reports, providing clear analysis and action points.


• Review in season forecasts and actuals, confirming stock and trading actions.


• Measure markdown and promotion effectiveness and implement corrective actions where required.


• Chair weekly pre trade meetings to set priorities for upcoming trading periods.


• Lead supplier meetings, production planning, and forecasting for owned categories.


• Review actual performance versus plan, managing variances and corrective actions.


• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support quality, availability, and long term growth.


• Conduct regular 1-2-1s with Assistant and Trainee Merchandisers.


• Support development planning, appraisals, and training activity for direct reports.


• Set clear expectations aligned to department objectives and critical path delivery.


• Conduct store visits and competitor shopping to inform category strategy.


• Contribute to cross functional initiatives with VM, Retail Ops, Ecommerce, Marketing, and Supply Chain.


• Deliver ad hoc analysis as required.


• Actively support and deliver the FatFace sustainability strategy within merchandising activity.


• To abide by all FatFace policies, procedures and brand values

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in a merchandising role within a retail environment.


• Strong financial planning, forecasting, and trading capability.


• Confident use of merchandising systems and reporting tools.


• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills.


• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across teams.

Core Competencies

• Collaboration: Builds positive relationships and works inclusively with others to achieve shared goals.


• Communication: Communicates clearly, openly and respectfully, ensuring others feel informed, listened to and valued.


• Customer Focus: Puts customer needs at the heart of decisions and actions to deliver exceptional experiences.


• Accountability: Takes ownership for actions, commitments and results. Being reliable, following through and learning from mistakes.


• Adaptability: Responds positively to change and challenges, approaching new ideas, experiences and opportunities with a curious and open mindset.


• Problem Solving: Uses good judgement, initiative, curiosity, creativity and available digital tools to find practical solutions and improve outcomes.


• Living Our Values: Consistently demonstrates FatFace brand values and follows company policies, procedures and ways of working.


• Purpose and Impact: Supports FatFace's social and environmental commitments by championing opportunities within their role to make a positive impact through everyday behaviours, actions and decisions.


• Commercial Acumen: Uses brand understanding and commercial insight to make informed decisions that support performance and growth.


• Financial and Resource Management: Manages budgets, forecasts and resources responsibly, balancing commercial performance with effective cost control and planning.


• Performance Management: Sets clear expectations, addresses challenges honestly and constructively, and supports high performance to help individuals and teams succeed.


• Team Development: Builds the capability, empowerment and engagement of team members through everyday conversations, feedback and development.


• Commercial Acumen - Strong understanding of financial and trading drivers.


• Analytical Thinking - Uses data to inform sound commercial decisions.


• Ownership & Accountability - Takes responsibility for outcomes and delivery.


• Collaboration - Builds effective relationships across functions and partners.


• Planning & Prioritisation - Delivers results against deadlines and critical path.

Collaboration and Deliverables:

External Agency or Consultant

Internal Product Teams (Design, Buying, Merchandising)

Internal Support Teams (Finance, IT, Retail Operations, People, Compliance, Property)

Industry Networking

Department Spend vs Budget

Team Performance and Development

Compliance and Governance Requirements

Timelines and Deadlines

• Critical Illness Income protection/ Death in service (for salaried colleagues)


• Pension scheme – with net deduction and salary sacrifice options


• Dental insurance (colleague funded)

Discounts & Perks

• 60% off FatFace products


• 25% discount at Next stores (across full price products)


• Discounted gym membership


• Cycle to Work scheme (for salaried colleagues)


• EV vehicle scheme (for salaried colleagues)


• Perkbox – our online platform offering:


• Day-one access


• Exclusive brand discounts


• Home workouts and more


• Specsavers eye care scheme


• Eye tests and contributions to glasses


• Free period products


• EAP support 24/7 via UNUM, Retail Trust, and Fashion & Textiles Support

Learning & Development

• Day-one access


• 1,000s of learning resources


• Sabbatical leave (in line with service)


• Enhanced family-friendly policies – including enhanced maternity leave


• Flexible Working Opportunities – flexible working requests can be made from day one of employment and are considered on an individual basis.


• Refer a Friend scheme

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply — you might be just the right fit.