MGB is seeking a Merchandiser to support the clothing Merchandising team on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract. The Merchandiser will support the Senior Merchandiser in the end to end range development process and responsible for managing the order placement and contracting of orders accurately and in line with critical path.
A key player in critical path management of order book with the Buyer to ensure maximum on time and in full availability of product from our manufacturing partners and reporting availability performance.
Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities
* Demonstrate a good understanding of franchise market feedback, key messages from franchise markets, specific market requirements and business case led product opportunities, alongside an understanding of order book and retail sales performance
* Develop good relationships with individual Commercial Business Partners to optimise the feedback from individual markets to aid range creation
* Demonstrate a good understanding of the product critical path.
* Provide support in the development of the annual / seasonal category plan.
* Provide support in the development of the option framework.
* Understand the sourcing strategy, develop strong and trusted relationships with manufacturing partners and support the Sourcing team on capacity planning for your ranges.
* Attend as required, CAD Review of designed assortment vs the agreed plan, in order to provide merchandising control of the range development. This will include knowledge of recent sales trends and validation of range balance
* Support the Senior Merchandiser & Buyer to build the final range and validating range for balance across categories, colour, price-points and finalising style level forecasted volumes to provide a weighted line detail.
* Input as required into the preparation of the Final Sign Off pack
* Prepare analysis of the Order Books following order placement & consolidation and be prepared to playback to the Product Team and the Commercial Business partners.
* Responsible for confirming order book volumes and LRD dates delivery dates with manufacturing partners in line with requirements.
* Accurately create the reports that generate the tri partite contract to be placed with manufacturing partners and franchise partners (transition from Order Administration) and ensuring final contracts are signed by the manufacturing partner in a timely manner.
* Working in collaboration with Order Administration to ensure systems & data updates tasks are completed accurately & on time.
* Attend the manufacturing partner production critical path meetings to understand order book progress to drive maximum on-time availability from manufacturing partners.
* Manage the contract amends process with the commercial business partners in a timely manner and ensure best commercial outcome from any such amends.
* Working with the technical team, ensure shipment approvals are in place and PO bookings are made in line with on – time delivery.
* Provide accurate availability tracking for availability performance of manufacturing partners vs contracted parameters.
* Manage and support Assistant Merchandisers on a day to day basis
Knowledge & Skills
* Commercial with Product affinity
* Previous Assistant/Junior Merchandiser experience
* Understanding of Franchise business and the requirements of Franchise Partners
* Strong analytical and reporting skills
* Critical path management
* Good communication and relationship skills
* Problem Solver
* Works at pace
* Accurate and numeric, strong IT skills, specifically Excel
* Team player
* Process driven