Merchandiser

Department: Womenswear

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Head Office, Chelsea House

Reporting To: Stephanie Perkins

The Merchandising team at River Island play a key role in realising the commercial opportunities created by our unique product across all our channels. This is achieved by developing and implementing the multichannel planning and trading strategy for a multiproduct department. The Merchandiser has direct impact on the product offer by channel to fulfil all customer requirements and deliver their department strategy, sales and profit plans. Working closely with their buying counterparts, the Merchandiser ensures that department margin targets are achieved and grows market share whilst maintaining our sustainability commitments. A River Island Merchandiser must successfully drive the performance of the merchandising team.

Key Accountabilities

• Develops the department and category strategy for a multiproduct area
• Grows sales and profit through successful planning and trading across all channels
• Through analysis of current and past performance alongside market data, formulate all opportunities to drive the business across all channels
• Creates a forward strategy with the Buyer to deliver company brand briefs and operating plans
• Proposes adjustments to immediate and longer-term financial plans, OTB and on order to optimise margin and sales, driving the trading performance of the department by channel
• Delivers an option framework to ensure a balanced range by channel
• Controls stocks within planned levels and works within agreed markdown targets
• Accountable for commitment review by size, maximising sales through availability.
• Plans sourcing strategies that reduce costs and grows margin with consideration of all external factors, incorporating an understanding of sustainable practices in sourcing and production ensuring the buying team are supported in this to deliver on our sustainability commitments.
• Strong management of the department critical path with the buyer to ensure timely delivery of product
• Plans and delivers the distribution strategy of stock to all channels
• Identifies all wholesale opportunities and looks for all opportunities to drive performance
• Using all available sources including regular store visits, industry news, sales and margin history, comp shops, identifies risks and opportunities, proposing actions to positively impact performance
• Builds cross divisional working relationships and external networks. To develop broad perspective and identify future opportunities
• Challenges all company working practices where appropriate to improve ways of working
• Alongside the Buyer, propose initiatives and acts on opportunities to drive sales and margin, including new product trial strategies
• Grows talent within the merchandising team and identify readiness for next role, providing learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring in a timely way to enable everyone to realise their individual potential
• Manage a team effectively, setting the direction and objectives to be achieved for your department, ensuring the team is aligned and working towards those objectives, and driving for a high-performance team. Providing timely feedback and support to enable each person to work to the best of their abilities, and opportunities for learning and stretch as appropriate within the team.

Key experience required

• Previous experience as a Merchandiser, or established Junior Merchandiser
• Experience in an omni-channel business is highly desirable
• Track record of delivering and exceeding sales and margin targets is essential
• Track record of identifying and delivering on new product opportunities
• Track record of driving strong team and individual performance and engagement

Job role competencies

• Very strong verbal and numerical reasoning skills
• Very strong communication skills
• Very strong analytical skills
• Very strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Skilled at presenting new ideas, flexing style and approach to gain buy-in
• Very strong people management, coaching, mentoring and development skills
• Very strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, emotional intelligence and self-management
• Highly organised, good prioritisation skills
• Disciplined and conscientious, results oriented
• Tenacious, resilient and adaptable to change
• Change advocate with a curious, continuous learning mindset
• Forward-thinking, innovative
• Passion for the RI brand and customer

We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. We understand our assignment, take ownership and deliver amazing results. Our people are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions, that’s why we are the ultimate place to work. Winning together is what a career at River Island is like.

This role is based at our Head Office, Chelsea House, in West London. Check us out here on a map.

What we can offer you

Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!

Reducing your everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.

A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.

Every family is unique, we support with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!

Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.

Progression focus throughout Retail & Head Office. Support with upskilling skills through on the job training and qualifications.

We contribute toward your retirement and offer a private pension plan.

The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.

An allowance supporting your commute to work.

25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!

Keeping You Safe

We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment.

Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.