Junior Merchandiser
hace 19 horas
Havant
Role Title: Junior Merchandiser - Men's Department: Merchandising Reports To: Merchandiser Contract Type: Permanent Working Arrangements/Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours Working Location: FatFace HQ, Havant Who are we? For over 30 years, we’ve travelled, we’ve laughed, we’ve grown. We believe life is for living and more fun with those we love. We are Made for Life. Our mission statement: Crafting clothes for life’s everyday adventures. Today, tomorrow and always. Our Product formula: Considered style. Trusted Quality. B Corp certified. We are proud to have featured in the Sunday Times top 10 best places to work 2025 and best places to work for women 2025. Equality and inclusion isn’t an aspiration but the standard. We promote and drive equality within our workforce to ignite an inclusive foundation for us all to build from and truly connect with our customers, colleagues, and communities alike. You play a key part in creating an environment free from prejudice, racism, sexism, harassment, bullying and any other form of marginalisation in our workplaces. Role Summary The Junior Merchandiser is responsible for delivering the commercial performance of their categories through effective financial planning, disciplined stock management, and strong in season trading. Working in close partnership with Buying, Design, and cross functional teams, the Junior Merchandiser ensures product ranges are delivered on time, to budget, and aligned with seasonal and brand objectives. The role owns category strategy, trading decisions, and supplier collaboration. Operating in a supported role, the Junior Merchandiser is accountable for smaller cash value categories while developing commercial judgement and technical capability. Working closely with the Merchandiser or Senior Merchandiser, the role builds the skills required to progress within the merchandising function. Role Responsibilities Financial Planning & Performance Management • Produce monthly margin rolls and to financial summaries for owned categories., • Own and maintain Category Planning (Cat Plan) tools and stock walk‑throughs with guidance., • Measure actuals versus plan, escalating risks and opportunities to senior colleagues., • Manage Open to Buy (OTB) for owned categories to balance availability, margin, and cash flow., • Develop and present markdown and promotional proposals, reviewing performance post event. Strategy & Category Support • Contribute to category strategy discussions, providing insight and analysis., • Deliver financial category planning and seasonal forecasts., • Assist in preparing business cases and supporting collaborations., • Support product strategies for seasonal peaks, small space changes, and additional channels. Systems & Web Readiness (NEXT Product System) • Set up of line flows and loading of pre‑season budgets accurately in the NEXT product system., • Assist in delivering launch strategies such as Early Release and Mid Phase Drops., • Accountable for delivering Web Readiness and Publishing KPIs across owned categories. Range Planning & Product Critical Path • Deliver lessons learnt analysis to support future range decisions., • Complete option planning and thumbnail development aligned to financial plans., • Prepare data and analysis for ranging and sign‑off meetings., • Lead ranging meetings from a merchandising perspective to ensure ranges are ranked and aligned to budget., • Complete estimates, distributions, and competition curve analysis., • Support collation of signoff packs, including line level attribution and buy data., • Lead range sign‑off meetings in partnership with Buying, Design, and Technical teams., • Own relationships with Partner teams and NEXT Branch Merchandising, ensuring clear communication of product decisions. Contracts, Intake & Critical Path • Accountable for merchandising actions within the Contract Tracker to ensure delivery against agreed spend and critical path., • Monitor intake and critical path activity across categories to achieve on time launch readiness. Trading & In Season Management • Set clear weekly trading priorities for owned categories., • Maintain and accurately update the budget tracker on a weekly basis., • Summarise trade performance and distribute insights to the wider product and leadership teams., • Own topline and category commentary within trade reports, providing clear analysis and action points., • Review in season forecasts and actuals, confirming stock and trading actions., • Measure markdown and promotion effectiveness and implement corrective actions where required., • Chair weekly pre trade meetings to set priorities for upcoming trading periods. Supplier Management • Lead supplier meetings, production planning, and forecasting for owned categories., • Review actual performance versus plan, managing variances and corrective actions., • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support quality, availability, and long term growth. Development & Team Contribution • Actively engage in development planning, training, and peer learning opportunities., • Support development planning, appraisals, and training activity for direct reports., • Support Assistant and Trainee Merchandisers where required., • Demonstrate ownership of tasks and a proactive approach to learning., • Where relevant in structure Conduct regular 1‑2‑1s with Assistant and Trainee Merchandisers. Broader Merchandising Responsibilities • Participate in store visits and competitor shopping., • Support cross functional initiatives and ad hoc analysis., • Contribute to the delivery of FatFace sustainability objectives within merchandising activity., • Align self to companies social and environmental mission and champion any actions that you can directly impact at all times’ Skills and Experience • Experience as an Assistant Merchandiser or in a retail analytical role., • Strong numerical and analytical skills with high attention to detail., • Good organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. Role Competencies • Commercial Awareness – Developing understanding of retail financial drivers., • Analytical Capability – Ability to interpret data and identify trends., • Learning Agility – Open to feedback and committed to development., • Organisation & Accuracy – Delivers reliable work to deadlines., • Collaboration – Works effectively as part of a wider team. FatFace Benefits: Financial & Protection Benefits • Sick pay allowances, • Critical Illness Income protection/ Death in service (for salaried colleagues), • Pension scheme – with net deduction and salary sacrifice options, • Dental insurance (colleague-funded) Discounts & Perks • 60% off FatFace products, • 25% discount at Next stores (across full price products), • O2 phone discount, • Discounted gym membership, • Cycle to Work scheme (for salaried colleagues), • EV vehicle scheme (for salaried colleagues), • Perkbox – our online platform offering:, • Day-one access, • Exclusive brand discounts, • Wellbeing content, • Home workouts and more Health & Wellbeing • Specsavers eye care scheme, • Eye tests and contributions to glasses, • Free period products, • EAP support 24/7 via UNUM, Retail Trust, and Fashion & Textiles Support Learning & Development • THRIVE – our learning management system:, • Day-one access, • 1,000s of learning resources Time Off & Leave • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, • Sabbatical leave (in line with service), • Enhanced family-friendly policies – including enhanced maternity leave, • Flexible Working Opportunities – flexible working requests can be made from day one of employment and are considered on an individual basis. Additional Perks • Refer a Friend scheme Join us to make a tangible impact on our merchandising success and help shape the future of our product offerings! We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to apply — you might be just the right fit.