Founded over 20 years ago by three entrepreneurial women with a passion for beautiful, practical and comfortable homes, OKA is more than a furniture and homeware retailer: it is a love affair with living well.
We inspire people to confidently create a home that reflects their personality, a space where nothing should be too precious or perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends. British-born, today we have 13 stores across the UK, an established Interior Design and Trade business, a mail-order service and a thriving website.
We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Assistant Merchandiser to support our Merchandise team, based at our office in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
We operate a hybrid working model: three or more days from the office, the remainder of the week from home.
ABOUT US
We know the best work is done by people who enjoy their jobs, so we create a fun and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and is able to thrive. We are looking for an agile and proactive Assistant Merchandiser with a positive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit who can help us nurture this company culture.
Reporting directly to the Merchandiser, the Assistant Merchandiser is responsible for supporting the planning and trading of the product ranges, to achieve maximum sales and profit growth whilst keeping within agreed stock and cost targets.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* Awareness of the OKA brand and where it sits in the UK markets
* Understand our customer profile & segments
* Demonstrate understanding of competitors ranges and use this information to make recommendations
* Track competitor product ranges, pricing and promotional tactics
* Have a clear understanding of our channels and their varying requirements
* Minimise all departmental costs where possible (incl. raw materials)
* Build and maintain strong relationships across the wider business
* Lead the made to order process and production management ensuring timely escalation of any challenges
* Provide exceptional internal and external customer service throughout all touchpoints of the MTO process, end customer, manufacturer and internal departments
* Role-model our Company Values and Behaviours
Planning & Analysis
* Understand departmental strategy and how that fits into the OKA strategic pillars
* Contribute to the development of the departmental strategy
* Understand departmental budgets & targets
* In line with the Merchandising team, provide pre-season planning and analysis to help support the financial budgeting and forecasting process by channel
* Work with the Merch & PD team to review sales history, analyse winners and losers, anticipate future trends and understand performance
* Identify gaps in the range and make recommendations
* Collate information and analysis prior to range review meetings to provide insight to Merchandising & Product Development Team
* Update range plans to ensure accurate and up to date information at all times to share with the wider business
* Planning sales forecasts in line with department strategy, using WSSI and line card forecasting tools
* Order forecasting in line with OTB
* Contribute to pre-season allocation plans, working alongside VM & MAA within the parameters set by the Merchandiser
* Provide regular and relevant feedback regarding product/inventory issues and opportunities within the range
* Understand department pricing architecture (entry/mid/exit) and provide analysis based on market
* Ad hoc analysis as required by the business
Intake Management
* Work with supply chain & ACS team to plan efficient movement of stock and control costs, to keep stock in right place at the right time
* Negotiate and liaise with the supply base
* Review critical path to ensure delivery on time for launch & raise issues where necessary
* Work closely with Product Development to ensure all new products are following the specified critical path to launch on time
* Review stock and inventory position and make recommendations to pull forward/push back intake
* Co-ordinate intake of made to order components/materials to ensure availability for customer orders
Trading
Assist in all aspects of trading the department, to include:
* Running and updating Monday morning reports, & subsequent analysis
* Setting up, maintaining/updating the line cards and proposing actions to JM & MM
* Ad hoc analysis as and when required by wider business
* Monitor performance and make recommendations on how to exploit/improve
* Participate in store visits and provide feedback to the team
* Support channels with pulling relevant data and analysis
* Work closely with MAA to ensure stock is in the right place, in the right quantity at the right time
* Work closely with Ecommerce and Marketing team to ensure that newsletters/emails are commercially viable and promoting the products that will drive interest and sales
* Maintain communication with retail team & allocation team to ensure any potential issues are resolved
* Assist with preparing and setting up markdown proposals across the key sale periods, as well as promotional activity and exclusion lists
* Work proactively to provide the wider business with accurate and up to date information at all times
Departmental Admin
* Use appropriate IT systems and software packages to drive delivery of the critical path
* Work with the rest of the Merchandising team to ensure all products are attributed correctly
* Work with Supply Chain and Product Development team to ensure system accuracy and credibility
* Assist the wider team with accurate data management to ensure complete accuracy
* Manage the key administration activities of the dept
* Maintain up to date information on all areas including pricing, seasonality and attributes
* Provide accurate wider business facing documentation
OUR VALUES
* Put the Customer First - provides exceptional internal and external customer service at all touchpoints
* Be In It Together - approachable, personable, committed to shared success
* Think Big - creative, innovative, solutions orientated
* Own It - curious, persistent, drives results
* Stay Playful - energises others, focuses on positives and opportunities, finds room for spontaneity
ABOUT YOU
* An experienced Assistant Merchandiser who is ready to take responsibility for a small area
* A creative, problem-solving spirit
* Passion for the OKA brand
* Highly numerate with advanced Excel skills
* Ability to communicate in a variety of formats to all levels of the business
* Actively seeks continuous personal and team improvements within the work environment
* Ability to adapt in a fast-moving business, taking on new challenges and responsibilities
* Flexible attitude to working within other areas or departments depending on business requirements
* Good organisational skills and attention to detail with proficiency in all Microsoft tools
* Passion for helping drive sustainability across the operation
OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE
* 33 days holiday (including bank holiday entitlement), plus Length of Service increases
* Day off for your birthday
* Health Care Plan
* Generous staff discount
* Enhanced Maternity Pay
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Eligibility for a discretionary company Bonus Scheme
* Discounts on 60+ UK retailers via My OKA benefits platform
* Plus a suite of additional employee benefits including Company pension scheme, life assurance cover, free eye tests, cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loans, social events, online wellbeing centre and more.
If successful you will become part of the OKA family, a fast-paced and dynamic business. If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV and details of your salary expectations, notice period and right to work information via the link provided.
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