Merchandising Manager

My client is a successful and well-established ladies' fashion retailer with a strong multi-channel presence, comprising of approximately 50 retail stores, 100 concession locations and a growing e-commerce business.

They are now looking to appoint an experienced Merchandising Manager to join the team and lead the day-to-day merchandising function, taking responsibility for effective stock planning, investment management and distribution across the business. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven merchandising professional with a hands-on approach and someone maybe looking for a step up to play a key role in maximising sales, profitability and stock performance within an established, growing and fast moving retail business.

Merchandising Manager - The Role

The Merchandising Manager will have day-to-day responsibility for the merchandising function, managing and developing the merchandising team and working closely with other areas of the business including Warehouse, E-commerce, Design, Finance and the Directors. Also, responsible for translating sales and financial targets into effective stock and intake plans, monitoring trading performance and ensuring that the business has the right stock, in the right quantities, in the right channels and at the right time.

Merchandising Manager - Key Responsibilities

Merchandising & Trading

• Lead the day-to-day merchandising function across stores, concessions and e-commerce.
• Manage sales, stock, intake, margin and markdown performance against agreed budgets and forecasts.
• Analyse weekly trading performance, identifying trends, risks and opportunities and recommending appropriate actions.
• Monitor stock cover, sell-through, availability and terminal stock positions across departments, categories and channels. Ensure stock is appropriately allocated across stores, concessions and e-commerce to maximise sales and stock productivity.
• Identify slow-moving and underperforming stock and recommend transfers, promotions, markdowns or other corrective action.
• Work with Retail and E-commerce teams to maximise availability and commercial opportunities across all channels.

Planning & Budgeting

• Play a key role in preparing seasonal and annual sales, stock and buy plans.
• Work closely with the Directors and Finance in developing forecast buy requirements. Translate agreed business sales and margin forecasts into departmental and category-level stock and intake plans.
• Maintain and regularly reforecast sales, stock, intake and markdown plans as trading develops. Manage open-to-buy and committed stock positions to ensure future intake remains aligned with revised sales expectations. Provide clear analysis to support decisions regarding future buying levels and stock investment.
• Review previous-season performance and provide recommendations to inform future range and buy plans.

Buying & Range Support

• Work closely with the Buying Director during range planning and selection.
• Provide historical sales, sizing, colour, category and price-point analysis to support buying decisions. Challenge proposed buys where appropriate based on sales history, stock levels and commercial forecasts.
• Review initial quantities and repeat-buy opportunities throughout the season. Ensure buying decisions are considered within the context of overall stock commitments, cash investment and terminal stock targets.

Stock Management

• Maintain appropriate stock levels across approximately 50 stores, 100 concessions and e-commerce.
• Oversee allocation and replenishment processes to maximise product availability.
• Manage stock balancing and transfers between locations and channels.
• Review ageing stock and develop commercially appropriate exit strategies.
• Work with relevant teams to ensure intake phasing reflects sales requirements and warehouse capacity.

Reporting & Commercial Analysis

• Produce and present clear weekly merchandising and trading reports.
• Provide commentary on sales, margin, stock, intake, cover and markdown performance. Highlight significant risks and opportunities to senior management at an early stage.
• Develop and maintain relevant KPIs and reporting to improve merchandising decision-making. Identify opportunities to use AI, automation and business intelligence tools to improve forecasting, trading analysis, stock management, allocation and replenishment, and the speed and quality of commercial decision-making.
• Provide analysis for seasonal reviews, budgeting and business planning.

Team Management

• Manage, support and develop a merchandising team of four.
• Allocate responsibilities and priorities across the team and ensure key deadlines are achieved.
• Develop the technical and commercial capability of team members.
• Ensure appropriate controls, processes and reporting standards are maintained within the department.
• Build a collaborative relationship between Merchandising and Warehouse, E-commerce, Design and Finance teams.

Merchandising Manager - The person (Key Skills & Experience)

• Significant merchandising experience within fashion or a similar multi-site retail environment.
• Previous experience at Merchandiser, Senior Merchandiser or Merchandising Manager level.
• Experience managing and developing a merchandising team.
• Strong experience of sales, stock, intake and markdown planning. Experience of seasonal budgeting, forecasting and buy planning.
• Strong understanding of stock cover, sell-through and terminal stock management. Strong numerical and analytical skills with advanced Excel capability.
• Comfortable embracing modern analytical tools, including AI, automation and business intelligence, alongside advanced Excel; previous AI experience is not essential. Experience of trading across stores and e-commerce; concession experience would be advantageous. Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge and influence buying and stock decisions.
• Ability to translate detailed analysis into clear recommendations for senior management.
• A practical and hands-on management style suited to a relatively lean management structure.
• Commercial and highly analytical. Confident making and recommending decisions.
• Proactive in identifying both risks and opportunities.
• Organised and capable of managing multiple seasonal priorities.
• Comfortable working closely with directors and other departmental management.
• Collaborative but prepared to challenge where necessary.
• Able to balance detailed analysis with an understanding of the wider commercial picture.
• A strong people manager who enjoys developing a small team.