Senior Merchandiser/Planner

Antler; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading travel lifestyle brand in London seeks a Senior Merchandiser/Planner to lead merchandising strategies that align with market trends. The role requires extensive merchandising experience and strong analytical skills, with a focus on collaboration and optimizing product offerings. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing team committed to innovation and excellence in the travel sector.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Hybrid work model

Health cash plan

Pension and life insurance

Enhanced family leave

Employee discounts and perks

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in merchandising, preferably as a senior planner in retail or consumer products.
• Strong proficiency in Excel and relevant software for planning.
• Proven leadership ability in cross-functional team environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement merchandising strategies to maximize sales and profitability.
• Forecast demand and manage inventory across various channels.
• Collaborate across teams to ensure cohesive product launches and brand messaging.

Skills

Merchandising expertise

Analytical skills

Leadership skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Tools

Excel

Retail planning software

Job description

The Opportunity

At Antler, we stand at the forefront of innovation in the travel lifestyle industry, and we are on an exciting journey as we continue to grow our brand globally. We are searching for a strategic and motivated Senior Merchandiser/ Planner to join our UK team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for leading merchandising strategies that optimise profitability and ensure our product offerings align with market trends and consumer demand. You'll work closely across multi-channel and regional teams to develop strategic plans that enhance our product assortment and drive sales growth. This is a fantastic opportunity for experienced merchandisers looking to further their careers in a dynamic environment.

Core Responsibilities

In the fast-moving world of Antler, your responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive merchandising strategies that maximise sales and profitability while ensuring alignment with company goals. Create detailed merchandising plans based on market analysis, consumer insights, and sales performance.

• Inventory Planning: Forecast demand and manage inventory to ensure optimum stock levels across all channels while minimising excess stock. Coordinate actions to align supply and demand across direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and retail channels.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with design, marketing, sales, and e-commerce teams to ensure cohesive product launches, promotions, and overall brand messaging throughout the customer journey.

• Sales Forecasting & Reporting: Generate accurate sales forecasts and provide regular reporting on product performance, inventory levels, and market trends. Driving and maintaining OTB and WSSI plans. Use data analytics to extract key insights across region and channel to present senior management.

• Product Lifecycle Management: Oversee the lifecycle of product lines from planning, development, and launch through to markdowns and end-of-life. Collaborate with teams to make strategic recommendations on product ranges based on customer feedback and performance analysis. Focus on maintaining and driving critical path alongside product teams.

• Market Research: Conduct ongoing market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive insights. Support the product development team in aligning new products with customer needs and preferences.

• Training & Leadership: Mentor and develop junior merchandising staff, fostering a collaborative and empowering team environment. Share best practices and industry insights to enhance team performance and productivity.

About Antler

• Antler is the British travel lifestyle brand. With a new leadership team, we have an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to the way we operate.

• Established in 1914, we have a rich heritage - one that is respected and celebrated.

• Since ATR Brands acquired Antler in 2020, we’ve achieved a lot. We’ve reimagined the brand, invested in the team, developed incredible new products and collaborated with exciting partners globally.

• We’ve grown from a team of 6 to 30+ in the past 3 years. We all bring something unique and are united in the common aspiration of being better than average; we have a will-do attitude where nothing is impossible.

About You

It’s all about compatibility. Here’s what you will need to succeed in this role:

• Extensive experience in merchandising, preferably in a senior planner capacity within fashion, retail, or consumer products.

• Strong analytical skills, with proficiency in Excel and experience with merchandising or retail planning software.

• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Proven leadership skills with a collaborative approach to working in cross-functional teams.

• A results-oriented mindset with a passion for fashion, travel, and lifestyle products.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey data-driven insights to stakeholders at various levels.

The Perks

Aside from the role, the people and our big ambitions, here are some of the other things that make Antler a great place to work.

• Lifestyle: 33 days annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays.

• Lifestyle: Hybrid approach with 3 days in the office, typically Monday, Tuesday & Thursday.

• Health: Health cash plan provided by Medicash.

• Wealth: Pension + pension advice, life insurance and discretionary company bonus.

• Family: Enhanced family leave for both primary and secondary careers.

• The little extras: Antler allowance and discount, Charlie HR perks and cash back, Hoxton discounts through ‘Working From’ membership.