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Sponsorship verifiedCommunication SkillsTechnical Merchandising SkillsSales StrategiesRelationship BuildingData Analysis
Requirements
Candidates should possess strong communication and technical merchandising skills, along with the ability to analyze data and develop sales strategies. An energetic and open-minded approach to new ways of working is also essential.
Job Description
Job Description
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Brands team and broaden your knowledge!
Let’s talk quality… When it comes to UK retail, it’s hard to find a company with a bigger focus on quality. We sell thousands of items an hour and our repeat customer base comes back to us time and time again for our renowned quality products. For anyone in the Brands field - this is the place to learn. To grow. And to thrive.
What You’ll Take On
Liaising with External Brands and Curating Collections: Act as the main point of contact for external brands and collaborate closely with these brands to curate commercial collections that align with customer preferences and market trends. Ensure timely communication and collaboration to facilitate smooth trading processes.
Driving Sales Profitability and Building Relationships: Develop strategies to grow sales and profitability for key brands while fostering excellent relationships. Proactively identify opportunities for revenue growth and margin improvement through effective merchandising and pricing strategies. Build rapport with brand representatives to strengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration.
Autonomous Management of Key Brands: Take ownership of the performance of key brands, including managing sales budgets and profit targets.
Internal Collaboration and Business Knowledge: Liaise with internal departments to ensure alignment and support for brand initiatives and develop a comprehensive understanding of the company's business operations and objectives to inform decision-making and strategy development.
Managing Sales Budgets and Profit: Develop and manage sales budgets for key brands, ensuring alignment with overall financial goals. Monitor sales performance against targets and implement strategies to optimise profitability.
Preparing Packs and Conducting Brand Visits: Prepare comprehensive packs prior to selection meetings, providing insights into historical performance and future opportunities. Conduct brand visits to select future season ranges and review trading performance, gathering insights for decision-making.
In-Season Trading and Markdown Management: Monitor in-season sales performance to identify opportunities for maximising sales and minimising markdowns. Implement effective trading strategies to optimise inventory levels and pricing, ensuring alignment with sales targets.
Training and Nurturing Trainee Merchandisers: Take an active role in training and mentoring trainee merchandisers, providing guidance and support to facilitate their professional development.
What You’ll Bring
Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions. Tailor your communication style to your audience, ensuring information is conveyed effectively and actively listen to feedback and respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns.
Solid Technical Merchandising Skills: Utilise your technical expertise to analyse data, forecast sales, and plan inventory effectively. Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support successful trading relationships. Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to enhance your merchandising capabilities.
Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self-Confident: Approach your role with energy and enthusiasm, inspiring others with your passion and positivity. Demonstrate confidence in your abilities and decisions, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.
Open-Mindedness to New Ways of Working: Embrace innovation and creativity, actively seeking out new ideas and solutions to challenges. Be receptive to feedback and different perspectives, recognizing that diverse viewpoints can lead to better outcomes. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation within your team.
Enjoyment of the Product/Trend Side of the Role: Immerse yourself in the world of products and trends, staying informed about the latest developments and innovations. Use your passion for products and trends to drive creative merchandising strategies and inspire your team. Actively seek out opportunities to collaborate with design teams and brand partners to bring innovative products to market.
Your Team
Joining the Brands Team at Next during this period of growth is an incredible opportunity! As an Assistant Merchandiser, you'll play a vital role in fostering relationships with external brands and curating collections that resonate with customers and market trends. It's an exciting time to be part of a team that's at the forefront of expanding Next's brand offerings and catering to diverse customer preferences!
Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa .
We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.
At NEXT, we believe the best work happens when there are no barriers to collaboration. That’s why we are a Google-powered workspace. From your very first day, you’ll be using the full Google Workspace suite; Docs, Drive, and Meet, to stay connected and move fast.
If your previous experience is rooted in other software suites, don’t worry! We’ll point you to a digital Google toolkit the moment you join, packed with handy guides and insider tips to help you transition smoothly and hit the ground running.
About Us
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
About The Team
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Brands team and broaden your knowledge!
Let’s talk quality… When it comes to UK retail, it’s hard to find a company with a bigger focus on quality. We sell thousands of items an hour and our repeat customer base comes back to us time and time again for our renowned quality products. For anyone in the Brands field - this is the place to learn. To grow. And to thrive.
What You’ll Take On
Liaising with External Brands and Curating Collections: Act as the main point of contact for external brands and collaborate closely with these brands to curate commercial collections that align with customer preferences and market trends. Ensure timely communication and collaboration to facilitate smooth trading processes.
Driving Sales Profitability and Building Relationships: Develop strategies to grow sales and profitability for key brands while fostering excellent relationships. Proactively identify opportunities for revenue growth and margin improvement through effective merchandising and pricing strategies. Build rapport with brand representatives to strengthen partnerships and enhance collaboration.
Autonomous Management of Key Brands: Take ownership of the performance of key brands, including managing sales budgets and profit targets.
Internal Collaboration and Business Knowledge: Liaise with internal departments to ensure alignment and support for brand initiatives and develop a comprehensive understanding of the company's business operations and objectives to inform decision-making and strategy development.
Managing Sales Budgets and Profit: Develop and manage sales budgets for key brands, ensuring alignment with overall financial goals. Monitor sales performance against targets and implement strategies to optimise profitability.
Preparing Packs and Conducting Brand Visits: Prepare comprehensive packs prior to selection meetings, providing insights into historical performance and future opportunities. Conduct brand visits to select future season ranges and review trading performance, gathering insights for decision-making.
In-Season Trading and Markdown Management: Monitor in-season sales performance to identify opportunities for maximising sales and minimising markdowns. Implement effective trading strategies to optimise inventory levels and pricing, ensuring alignment with sales targets.
Training and Nurturing Trainee Merchandisers: Take an active role in training and mentoring trainee merchandisers, providing guidance and support to facilitate their professional development.
What You’ll Bring
Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions. Tailor your communication style to your audience, ensuring information is conveyed effectively and actively listen to feedback and respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns.
Solid Technical Merchandising Skills: Utilise your technical expertise to analyse data, forecast sales, and plan inventory effectively. Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support successful trading relationships. Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to enhance your merchandising capabilities.
Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self-Confident: Approach your role with energy and enthusiasm, inspiring others with your passion and positivity. Demonstrate confidence in your abilities and decisions, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.
Open-Mindedness to New Ways of Working: Embrace innovation and creativity, actively seeking out new ideas and solutions to challenges. Be receptive to feedback and different perspectives, recognizing that diverse viewpoints can lead to better outcomes. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation within your team.
Enjoyment of the Product/Trend Side of the Role: Immerse yourself in the world of products and trends, staying informed about the latest developments and innovations. Use your passion for products and trends to drive creative merchandising strategies and inspire your team. Actively seek out opportunities to collaborate with design teams and brand partners to bring innovative products to market.
Your Team
Joining the Brands Team at Next during this period of growth is an incredible opportunity! As an Assistant Merchandiser, you'll play a vital role in fostering relationships with external brands and curating collections that resonate with customers and market trends. It's an exciting time to be part of a team that's at the forefront of expanding Next's brand offerings and catering to diverse customer preferences!
Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa .
We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.
At NEXT, we believe the best work happens when there are no barriers to collaboration. That’s why we are a Google-powered workspace. From your very first day, you’ll be using the full Google Workspace suite; Docs, Drive, and Meet, to stay connected and move fast.
If your previous experience is rooted in other software suites, don’t worry! We’ll point you to a digital Google toolkit the moment you join, packed with handy guides and insider tips to help you transition smoothly and hit the ground running.
About Us
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
About The Team
- 25% off most NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
- Company performance based bonus
- Sharesave scheme
- On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas
- 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty
- Early VIP access to sale stock
- Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops
- Restaurants with great food at amazing prices
- Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services
- Free on-site parking
- Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing
- Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification
- Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store
- Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other
- Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Skills
Communication SkillsTechnical Merchandising SkillsSales StrategiesRelationship BuildingData AnalysisInventory PlanningPresentation SkillsMentoringCreativityMarket TrendsCollaborationCustomer PreferencesProfitability OptimizationBrand ManagementNegotiationProblem Solving
About Next
At Next we never underestimate what we can do. Bring your energy, play to your strengths and never shy away from change. Push yourself and back others. Make things happen that will be bigger and better than before. Come and work for one of the UK’s biggest retailers. It is everything you could imagine, and so much more. We’re constantly innovating, constantly working on something new and constantly creating more and more exciting new products, which means no day is the same, and no day is dull. Whether you take up a role in making furniture with our lively warehouse team or join our team of superhuman developers and tech engineers, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of the most talented people in the country, who not only work hard but play hard too. Let's take it on.
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