Assistant Merchandiser - Brands

About the Role:

Based at Alfred Place, London.
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours between 8am-6pm.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Contemporary Fashion Brand team at Next. You will be working across a variety of commission and wholesale brands including Mint Velvet, AllSaints and Monsoon. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make an impact and contribute to the continuing success of the Brands area.

Liaising with External Brands and Curating Collections: Act as the main point of contact for external brands and collaborate closely with them to curate commercial collections that align with customer preferences and market trends. Ensure timely communication and collaboration to facilitate smooth trading processes.

Driving Sales Profitability and Building Relationships: Develop strategies to grow sales and profitability for key brands while fostering excellent relationships. Proactively identify opportunities for revenue growth and margin improvement through effective merchandising and pricing strategies. Build rapport with brand representatives to strengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration.

Autonomous Management of Key Brands: Take ownership of the performance of the departments key brands, including managing sales budgets, OTB and profit targets.

Internal Collaboration and Business Knowledge: Liaise with internal departments, in particular Buying teams, to ensure alignment and support for brand initiatives. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the company's business operations and objectives to inform decision-making and strategy development.

Managing Sales Budgets and Profit: Develop and manage sales budgets for market leading brands, ensuring alignment with overall KPIs. Monitor sales performance against targets and implement strategies to optimise profitability.

Preparing Packs and Conducting Brand Visits: Prepare comprehensive packs prior to brand selection meetings, providing insights into historical performance and future opportunities. Conduct brand visits to select future season ranges and review trading performance, gathering insights for decision-making. Influence Commission brands on quantities and product selections, driving newness.

Brand recruitment: Work alongside your team to suggest and sign off new brands that would complement the department, supporting their onboarding onto the NEXT platform

In-Season Trading and Markdown Management: Monitor in-season sales performance to identify opportunities for maximising sales and minimising markdowns. Implement effective trading strategies to optimise inventory levels and pricing, ensuring alignment with sales targets.

Inspiring your team: Support and train junior members of the team, inspiring them with your passion for merchandising and product.

Your team:

Label Fashion is expanding its portfolio and you would be part of a dynamic team. Working with notable brands is exciting and brings a wealth of opportunities. This role offers a great opportunity to make a significant impact while being part of a vibrant team dedicated to success.

About You:
Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions. Tailor your communication style to your audience, ensuring information is conveyed effectively. Actively listen to feedback and respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns.

Solid Technical Merchandising Skills: Utilise your technical expertise to analyse data, forecast sales, and plan inventory effectively. Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support successful trading relationships. Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to enhance your merchandising capabilities.

Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self-Confident: Approach your role with energy and enthusiasm, inspiring others with your passion and positivity. Demonstrate confidence in your abilities and decisions, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.

Open-Mindedness to New Ways of Working: Embrace innovation and creativity, actively seeking out new ideas and solutions to challenges. Be receptive to feedback and different perspectives, recognising that diverse viewpoints can lead to better outcomes. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation within your team.

Enjoyment of the Product/Trend Side of the Role: Immerse yourself in the world of product and trends, staying informed about the latest developments and innovations. Use your passion for product and trends to drive creative merchandising strategies and inspire your team. Actively seek out opportunities to collaborate with brand partners to bring innovative products to market.

Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

Benefits