Merchandiser - Apparel

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JD Sports Fashion is hiring a Merchandiser - Apparel for full-time, onsite work in Bury to lead channel sales, stock intake and profit plans, reporting to the Merchandise Manager. You’ll drive strategy, annual and quarterly planning, range and assortments, pre scheduling and trade performance, while collaborating across Online, Store Operations, Visuals, Marketing, Finance and DC to hit KPI targets. The ideal candidate has proven merchandising experience in sports or fashion retail, is highly numerate with a sharp commercial focus, and demonstrates leadership and strong communication. To apply, tailor your CV to showcase range planning, OTB creation, forecast accuracy, sell-through improvements and cross-functional wins, and align with a people-led, innovative, customer-focused culture.

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Established in 1981 with a single store in the Northwest of England, the JD Group is a leading omni-channel retailer of Sports Fashion, Outdoors and Gyms with our colleagues working in stores across several retail fascias in many markets around the world.


JD Sports Fashion Plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and has been a FTSE100 publicly quoted company since 2019 and continues to grow in the UK and internationally.


We want to be the leading global omnichannel retailer in the sports and outdoor industry. To be a part of this successful company and help us to achieve this you will have the desire to ingrain our strategic goals of being a people-led, innovative and customer-focused organisation which provides operational excellence whilst identifying new areas of growth as part of our day to day objectives.


Reporting to: Merchandise Manager
Location: Hollinsbrook Way, Bury
Role Overview: JD Group Head Office, Bury, Greater Manchester To lead the team to deliver all Channel Sales, Markdown, Stock, Intake and Profit Plans. Drive business change to achieve company goals/objectives.
Key Duties/Responsibilities:
Strategy (10%):
• With the Buyer review previous season and capture lessons learned.
• With the Buyer create the strategy for the department and present
• Drive Team development supporting the business to facilitate internal promotions and succession planning

Plan (35%):
• Approve the proposed grading from the trading Merchandiser for input into the assortment planning process
• Review the SMT plan at Buyer Group/Season annually and apply plan at Category/Season level to meet the Buyer Group/Season plan
• Quarterly plan at Category/Season level with the Buyer to submit a plan on the System that reflects the best possible mix of product to deliver the KPI’s
• Formulate range plan at Store level in conjunction with the Buyer quarterly
• Attend selection/pre-selection meetings with the Buyer and suppliers.
• Plan the Pre Scheduling to meet the range plan – In conjunction with Assistant Merchandisers

Stock (5%):
• Overview the ratios for all buys in conjunction with Assistant merchandiser
• Ensure that the Buy matches the plan Buy
• Manage Intake at category and line level

Trade (50%):
• Review weekly trading performance and achieved KPI’s, identifying Issues and the course of action in preparation for the weekly trading meetings
• Propose and agree actions to recover risk and maximise opportunities with the Buyer at category and line level.
• Monthly – Capture all agreed actions in the monthly forecast reviews
• Work up the forecast from category/Season level to Buyer Group
• Meet and gain approval: Incorporating
o Forecasting any sales variance to plan
o Creation of OTB’s
o Management of commitments – On time delivery, rebuys cancellations
o Markdown proposals
• Provide Retail with Merchandising aids through the Store Allocators
• Manage the range plan in Season reflecting any changes
• Create and Manage/monitor sell out dates against all products
Establish collaborative working relationships across functions including Online, Store operations, visuals, Marketing, Finance, DC and Stores
Behavioural:
• Delivering Excellence Working at a consistently high standard & with enthusiasm. you work to deliver a high quality service to meet personal and team expectations.
• Responsibility (Delivers results) Take ownership of your work and use your initiative to deliver. Take responsibility for your own actions & decisions
• Team Work You work with others to reach a common goal; sharing information, supporting colleagues and searching out expertise and solutions from relevant stakeholders.
• Leadership You lead by example through your behaviours and professional approach to work; inspiring your colleagues and driving for results.
• Communication You communicate clearly and concisely, ensuring that the message is understood by all.

Skills/Experience/Knowledge Needed:
• Experience within a similar role is essential
• Experience within a sports/fashion retailer is advantageous
• Highly numerate and strong commercial focus


We know our colleagues work tirelessly to make JD Sports the success it is today and in turn, we offer them some amazing benefits including staff Discount On JD Group and other brands within the organisation and personal development opportunities to learn and develop at work.


Thank you for your time


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