Retail Merchandiser

BoF Careers; Greater London; Vor Ort; GBP 40.000 - 55.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

BoF Careers is seeking a commercially minded Retail Merchandiser to oversee retail planning, stock allocation and trading performance across stores in London. The role requires strong analytical skills, hands-on experience with forecasting, OTB, stock planning and replenishment, and a deep understanding of fashion merchandising across multiple locations.

You will develop seasonal stock plans, monitor performance, optimise distribution, and present clear recommendations to senior management.

Qualifikationen

• > Proven experience in fashion retail merchandising with responsibility for retail planning, allocation and replenishment.
• - Experience managing stock and trading performance across multiple retail locations.
• - Strong numerical and analytical skills including forecasting, stock planning, OTB and size-level analysis.
• - Excellent commercial judgement and product understanding with ability to translate analysis into practical recommendations.
• - Advanced Excel skills and confidence with merchandising/inventory systems.
• - Good understanding of stock operations, stocktakes, transfers and controls.
• - Proactive problem-solving and ability to identify risks and solutions.
• - Strong organisational and communication skills, with independent working style.

Aufgaben

• > Retail Planning, Forecasting & OTB; own forecasting, stock planning and OTB across stores.
• - Develop seasonal and monthly stock plans aligned with budgets and demand.
• - Analyse historical sales and demand to forecast stock requirements.
• - Monitor sales vs forecast, stock cover, sell-through and stock turn.
• - Identify stock shortages, excess inventory and missed opportunities.
• - Manage stock allocations, replenishment and transfers across stores.
• - Optimise stock distribution to maximise sales and minimise excess inventory.
• - Balance stock availability across retail and other channels.
• - Coordinate store stocktakes, transfers and warehouse receipts; investigate discrepancies.
• - Develop stock plans for full-price and outlet channels and seasonal promotions.
• - Provide clear commercial recommendations with expected impact.

Kenntnisse

Fashion retail merchandising

Retail planning

Stock allocation

Forecasting

OTB analysis

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

Inventory systems

Tools

Excel

Merchandising systems

Inventory management systems

Jobbeschreibung

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded, analytical and product-focused Retail Merchandiser to oversee retail planning, stock allocation and trading performance across our stores.

Location

London

Department

Merchandising

Key Responsibilities

• Retail Planning, Forecasting & OTB
• Own retail sales forecasting, stock planning and Open-to-Buy (OTB) management across stores.
• Develop seasonal and monthly stock plans aligned with sales budgets, trading performance and anticipated demand.
• Analyse historical sales, current trading, seasonality and customer demand to forecast future stock requirements.
• Monitor sales against forecast, stock cover, sell-through, stock turn and availability.
• Proactively identify stock shortages, excess inventory and missed sales opportunities.
• Assess stock investment requirements and recommend appropriate commercial actions.
• Present clear, quantified recommendations to senior management.
• Store Allocation & Replenishment
• Manage initial and ongoing stock allocations, replenishment and transfers across stores.
• Determine appropriate product depth, size ratios and allocation quantities based on rate of sale, customer demand and individual store profiles.
• Monitor performance by style, colour and size, identifying bestsellers, broken size runs and underperforming products.
• Optimise stock distribution to maximise sales and minimise excess inventory.
• Balance stock availability and requirements across retail and other sales channels.
• Identify opportunities to replenish, rebalance or consolidate stock across locations.
• Work closely with warehouse and operations teams to ensure timely and accurate stock movements.
• Full-Price & Outlet Merchandising
• Develop commercially appropriate stock plans for full-price and outlet retail channels.
• Plan stock requirements for seasonal trading, markdown and promotional periods.
• Assess product suitability, historical performance, rate of sale, size availability and projected sell-through.
• Optimise existing inventory and assess future stock requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock productivity and markdown performance.
• Monitor performance against stock plans and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Retail Stock Operations & Controls
• Coordinate store stocktakes and monitor inventory accuracy across locations.
• Investigate stock discrepancies, shrinkage, damages and adjustments, ensuring appropriate follow-up and resolution.
• Oversee store stock transfers, returns and warehouse receipts, ensuring accurate recording and reconciliation.
• Identify recurring stock-related operational issues and recommend improvements.
• Work closely with Store Managers, Logistics and warehouse teams to resolve outstanding issues.
• Maintain consistent stock management processes and inventory controls.
• Store Engagement & Product Knowledge
• Conduct regular structured store visits and floor walks with Store Managers to understand trading performance and product opportunities.
• Develop strong knowledge of the collections, including key styles, fabrics, fits, colours and price points.
• Assess store product mix, assortment balance, size availability and stock presentation.
• Gather feedback from store teams on customer preferences, product demand, fit and quality.
• Combine store feedback and product knowledge with sales analysis to inform commercial decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock productivity and maximise full-price sales.
• Support opening stock packages for new stores when required, including assortment selection, stock depth and size ratios.
• Reporting, Analysis & Commercial Recommendations
• Produce accurate and timely retail trading and stock reports.
• Analyse performance by store, category, style, colour and size.
• Monitor key KPIs including sales versus budget, sell-through, stock cover, stock turn, availability and stock accuracy.
• Identify underlying causes of performance issues rather than simply reporting variances.
• Provide clear commercial recommendations, including proposed actions and expected impact.
• Ensure analysis is accurate, commercially relevant and appropriately sense-checked.
• Follow through on agreed actions and monitor their effectiveness.

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in fashion retail merchandising, with strong hands-on responsibility for retail planning, allocation and replenishment.
• Experience managing stock and trading performance across multiple retail locations.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, including forecasting, stock planning, OTB and size-level analysis.
• Excellent commercial judgement and product understanding, with the ability to assess what will sell, where and why.
• Ability to independently develop stock plans and translate analysis into practical commercial recommendations.
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence working with merchandising and inventory management systems.
• Good understanding of store stock operations, stocktakes, transfers and inventory controls.
• Proactive problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, investigate root causes and recommend solutions.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the confidence to challenge decisions constructively.
• Comfortable working independently in a hands-on role and taking ownership of outcomes.

Desirable

• Experience within premium or contemporary fashion retail.
• Experience in outlet trading, markdown planning or stock clearance strategies.
• Experience balancing stock requirements across multiple sales channels.
• Experience working closely with Store Managers and warehouse or logistics teams.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who combines strong planning and allocation expertise with genuine commercial instinct.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable analysing detailed stock data and walking a shop floor, understanding not only how products are performing but why.

They will anticipate stock requirements, recognise commercial opportunities, challenge assumptions and make sound recommendations independently.

Above all, we are looking for someone who takes ownership, understands product and customers, and turns accurate analysis into effective commercial decisions that drive sales and improve stock productivity.