Senior Merchandiser

Smallworld Accessories Limited; Lewes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

A day off for your birthday

Health insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning & development platform

Lifestyle and savings discounts

Company social events

Long-service recognition

Job summary

Smallworld Accessories Limited is seeking an experienced Senior Merchandiser to join our Merchandising team in Lewes. You will lead the Events area, collaborating with Buying to drive commercial performance and shape merchandising strategy across the department.

From seasonal planning to in-season trading, you’ll use performance data and market insight to identify risks and opportunities, making informed decisions on sales, stock, margin and markdown.

Qualifications

• Commercial judgment and thorough planning/trading experience.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• Experience leading and developing a Merchandising team.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Solid working knowledge of Excel.

Responsibilities

• Leading seasonal planning, forecasting and reforecasting.
• Managing sales, stock, margin and markdown against targets.
• Trading your area in-season, responding to performance, risks and opportunities.
• Using data, WSSI and market insight to inform commercial decisions.
• Managing stock and allocation to maximise sales and availability while controlling stock risk.
• Working closely with Buying and wider teams to ensure ranges remain commercially balanced.
• Leading and developing your Merchandising team through clear direction and feedback.
• Building strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the business.

Skills

Commercial judgment

Numerical skills

Decision making

Team leadership

Communication

Excel knowledge

Fashion retail interest

Tools

Excel

Job description

Welcome to Smallworld Accessories

We're a market-leading fashion accessories concession partner, working with some of the UK’s best-known retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Next. Our products reach customers across more than 1,500 stores throughout the UK.

Jewellery, hair accessories, sunglasses, belts, children's accessories, Back to School, licensed products and seasonal collections - the list goes on. Behind our products, our Buying, Merchandising, Design and Operations teams work together across the product lifecycle, from range development and planning through to trading our products in stores nationwide.

As Smallworld continues to grow, we're expanding our Merchandising team and looking for an experienced Senior Merchandiser to join us.

The role

Looking after our Events area, you'll work closely with Buying to drive the commercial performance of your department, help shape and deliver the merchandising strategy for your area and support our wider business plans.

From seasonal planning through to in-season trading, you'll use performance data and insight to understand what's driving trade, identify risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions across sales, stock, margin and markdown.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading seasonal planning, forecasting and reforecasting
• Managing sales, stock, margin and markdown against agreed targets
• Trading your area in-season, responding to performance, risks and opportunities
• Using data, WSSI and market insight to inform commercial decisions
• Managing stock and allocation to maximise sales and availability while controlling stock risk
• Working closely with Buying and wider teams to ensure ranges remain commercially balanced and meet customer demand
• Leading and developing your Merchandising team through clear direction, coaching and feedback
• Building strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the business

A little about you

We're looking for an experienced Senior Merchandiser who brings:

• Commercial judgement and a thorough understanding of planning and trading
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail
• Confidence making decisions and managing competing priorities
• Experience leading and developing a Merchandising team
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Solid working knowledge of Excel
• An interest in fashion and the wider retail market

Why Smallworld?

We care about quality and responsible sourcing and our people are at the heart of what we do. As a Senior Merchandiser, you'll have real ownership of your area, with the autonomy to use your experience and commercial judgement, influence decisions and make a genuine impact.

You can also expect:

• A day off for your birthday
• Health insurance – subject to eligibility criteria
• Employee Assistance Programme – confidential support for your health and wellbeing
• Learning & development platform – access to online training and development
• Lifestyle and savings discounts
• Company social events
• Long-service recognition

Our modern Head Office is based in Lewes, a beautiful Sussex town with great connections to Brighton and beyond. We're around a 10-minute walk from Lewes station, with some on-site parking available.

Could Smallworld be your next move? We'd love to hear from you.