Merchandiser (Maternity Cover)

OKA Direct Ltd.; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic and innovative company as a full-time Merchandiser, where you will play a key role in maximizing sales and profit growth. This position offers the chance to work in a hybrid model, balancing time between the office and home. You will support the Merchandise Team in planning, trading, and analysis to ensure product availability and meet customer needs. With a focus on creativity and problem-solving, you will thrive in a nurturing environment that values your contributions. If you are passionate about merchandising and eager to drive success, this role is perfect for you!

Benefits

33 days holiday

Medicash Health Care Plan

Generous staff discount

Enhanced Maternity Pay

Employee Assistance Programme

Discretionary company Bonus Scheme

Discounts on UK retailers

Company pension scheme

Life assurance cover

Free eye tests

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in merchandising.
• Proven track record at Junior Merchandiser/Merchandiser level.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-moving business environment.

Responsibilities

• Support planning and trading of product ranges to maximize sales.
• Manage stock levels and ensure timely intake.
• Provide trading reports and analysis to support retail team.

Skills

Merchandising

Analytical Skills

Excel Proficiency

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Founded over 20 years ago by three entrepreneurial women with a passion for beautiful, practical and comfortable homes, OKA is more than a furniture and homeware retailer: it is a love affair with living well.
We inspire people to confidently create a home that reflects their personality, a space where nothing should be too precious or perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends. British-born, today we have 13 stores across the UK and an established Interior Design and Trade business, a mail-order service, thriving website and an app.

We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Merchandiser to support our Merchandise Team, based at our office in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
We operate a hybrid working model: three or more days from the office, the remainder of the week from home.

ABOUT US

We know the best work is done by people who enjoy their jobs, so we create a fun and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and is able to thrive. We are looking for an agile and proactive Assistant Merchandiser with a positive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit who can help us nurture this company culture.
Reporting directly to the Merchandise Manager the assistant merchandiser is responsible for supporting the planning and trading of the product ranges, across the UK market, to achieve maximum sales and profit growth whilst keeping within agreed stock and cost targets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Commerciality

• Be aware of the OKA brand and where it sits in both the UK & USA markets.
• Understand our customer profile & segments.
• Demonstrate understanding of competitors ranges and use this information to make recommendations.
• Track competitor product ranges, pricing and promotional tactics.
• Have a clear understanding of our channels and their varying requirements.
• Minimise all departmental costs where possible (incl raw materials).
• Build and maintain strong relationships across the wider business.


Planning & Analysis

• To understand and communicate the department strategy and be able to illustrate how that fits with the OKA strategic pillars
• Drives the building of the product strategy for each season alongside Product Development team, highlighting missed opportunities, competitor analysis and lessons learned.
• Manages seasonal top level dept/sub dept planning of Sales, Markdown, Margin and stock for all channels/markets.
• Leads the seasonal option planning processes for the department.
• Plan and manage department OTB within company intake plan using dept WSSI.
• Provide all in season and retrospective sales/stock/profit analysis at dept/category and option level to influence future buys.
• Operates within the product critical path to manage availability and ensure that product is available in the right channels at the right time.
• Works closely with the Planning Merchandise Manager to build the overall department plan
• Recommend and communicate the option plan and range for each catalogue, to the Design Studio & Marketing team.
• Agree hero lines with the commercial and marketing channels.


Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Provides regular and relevant feedback regarding issues and opportunities within the range.
• Liaises with suppliers and supply chain team to achieve best delivery dates to ensure intake to plan.


Intake Management

• Manage continuity stock levels throughout the season to maintain availability and sales in line with plan, placing re-orders and ensuring timely intake into and through the warehouse.
• Communicates all stock issues and delivery timings to the wider team regularly through trading meetings and email communication.


Allocation & Replenishment

• Provides in season trading reports and analysis to support the Retail team.
• Oversees replenishment and transfers to adjust stocks in line with trade and stock targets.
• Manages the clearance of samples/seconds under the guidance of the MM and product development teams.

Trading

• Assist in all aspects of trading the department, to include:
• Oversee information being pulled for weekly and monthly trading updates and delivers those updates to the business as and when required
• Trade dept weekly, summarise order/OTB movement by category sub category and share information with Merch Director
• Produces period end, season end and year end summary reports and insight as required.
• Manages main sale content and price file management to meet agreed sales and margin plans.
• Works in line with the agreed Trading calendar and closely with the Channel & Marketing teams to recommend and set up promotional activity to drive cash margin.

Departmental Admin

• Use appropriate IT systems and software packages to drive delivery of the critical path
• Work with the rest of the Merchandising team to ensure all products are attributed correctly
• Work with Supply Chain and Product Development team to ensure system accuracy and credibility
• Assist the wider team with accurate data management to ensure complete accuracy
• Manage the key administration activities of the dept
• Maintain up to date information on all areas including pricing, seasonality and attributes
• Provide accurate wider business facing documentation
• Owns seasonal range plans ensuring up to date at all time, line level data and exchange/shipping rates
Other
• Projects as agreed to support the profitable growth of the OKA business


People

• Works alongside the MAA to ensure stock is in the right place at the right time.
• Supports cross-team business partners by providing timely and accurate hand-over information and analysis in a format that is easily digestible for them.
• Responsible for the line management of the Assistant Merchandiser and overseeing AM management of MAA


ABOUT YOU

• A creative, problem-solving spirit
• Passion for the OKA brand
• Highly numerate with advanced excel skills
• Proven track record in Merchandising at Junior Merchandiser/Merchandiser level with a minimum of 5 years in merchandising.
• Experience trading a high SKU count with significant levels of continuity.
• Ability to communicate in a variety of formats to all levels of the business
• Actively seeks continuous personal and team improvements within the work environment
• Ability to adapt in a fast-moving business, taking on new challenges and responsibilities
• Flexible attitude to working within other areas or departments depending on business requirements
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail with proficiency in all Microsoft tools
• Passion for helping drive sustainability across the operation


OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE

• 33 days holiday (including bank holiday entitlement), plus Length of Service increases
• Day off for your birthday
• Medicash Health Care Plan
• Generous staff discount
• Enhanced Maternity Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eligibility for a discretionary company Bonus Scheme
• Discounts on 60+ UK retailers via My OKA benefits platform
• Plus a suite of additional employee benefits including Company pension scheme, life assurance cover, free eye tests, cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loans, social events, online wellbeing centre and more.

If successful you will become part of the OKA family, a fast-paced and dynamic business. If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV and details of your current salary, salary expectations, notice period and right to work information via the link provided.