Merchandiser

The Candidate Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Candidate Ltd in Manchester is seeking an experienced Merchandiser to join its growing retail business. You will work closely with Buying, Product Development and Supply Chain teams to drive product performance, optimise stock levels and support business growth.

You will plan ranges, forecast sales, manage inventory, ensure product availability at the right time, and maintain profitability while delivering accurate reporting and analysis to inform commercial decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a Merchandiser role.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with merchandising systems.
• Strong forecasting, analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Commercially minded with strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Plan product ranges using sales data and market trends.
• Forecast sales and stock requirements across categories.
• Manage stock intake to maximise availability and efficiency.
• Coordinate with suppliers to meet deadlines.
• Produce reporting and analysis to support decisions.
• Manage product performance across multiple sales channels.

Skills

Forecasting

Analytical skills

Excel

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Multi-priority management

Commercial acumen

Tools

Merchandising systems

ERP/Inventory software

Job description

Our client is looking for an experienced Merchandiser to join their growing retail business. This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-paced commercial environment where you'll work closely with Buying, Product Development and Supply Chain teams to drive product performance, optimise stock levels and support business growth.

The successful candidate will be responsible for planning product ranges, forecasting sales, managing inventory and ensuring products are available at the right time while maintaining profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with Buying teams to plan product ranges using sales data, market trends and commercial insight.
• Forecast sales and stock requirements across assigned product categories.
• Manage stock intake to maximise availability while maintaining efficient stock levels.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal teams to ensure production and delivery deadlines are met.
• Monitor sales performance, identifying risks and opportunities to improve results.
• Support margin performance by managing stock, intake and markdowns.
• Produce regular reporting and analysis to support commercial decisions.
• Manage product performance across multiple sales channels.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a Merchandiser role.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using merchandising systems.
• Strong forecasting, analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially minded with strong attention to detail.
• Able to identify opportunities and respond quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Desirable

• Experience working with overseas suppliers.
• Knowledge of Critical Path Management.
• WSSI experience.
• Budget planning and stock management experience.