Trainee Merchandiser

Role: Trainee Merchandiser - Partners Department

Location: Head Office, Unit 1-3 Ridgway, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1QJ

Working Arrangements: Hybrid Working

Contract Type: Part-Time - 3 days per week, Fixed Term, 3 months

Looking for the next adventure? Named in The Sunday Times 2023 Best Places to Work now is a great time to join our journey and build your career.

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. Our purpose is to bring style and positivity to our customers lives through the clothes we make, the things we do and the values we have.

We are Made for Life. Considered style. Trusted quality. Sustainably sourced. Proud to be a B Corp TM.

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 Overview:

The Trainee Merchandiser will be working alongside the Merchandising team to influence what our FatFace product ranges look like. Alongside this you will be closely managing stock levels in order to maximise sales and minimise our markdown risk, potentialising profitability. You will learn to trade those ranges, reacting to what our customers are telling us they love, then working with our global supplier base to get the stock to our customers when they want it.

Role Responsibilities

• With support from your team, you will learn the skills required to progress within our merchandising function. Responsibility comes early and you will be looking after stock for your product department.
• You will be responsible for managing your departments launch position, to ensure the right stock is in the right place at the right time to maximise profitability.
• You will receive regular feedback from your Merchandise team who will coach and develop you throughout, supporting you in reaching your goals.
• Ordering and managing the intake of stock from suppliers all over the world.
• Updating our product systems with the correct delivery dates and shipment modes.
• Reviewing historical and current sales to forecast what stock we need for the future.
• As you develop there will be the opportunity to attend range building and sign off meetings using your knowledge to influence how future ranges look.

Skills and Experience

• Ability to build strong relationships across different functions within the business.
• Proficient in Microsoft suite including Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with a professional and confident approach.
• Organised and can manage and prioritise a wide range of tasks.
• A great communicator, you will build excellent relationships both internally and externally.
• Able to interpret data and see opportunities.
• Numerate with a basic understanding of percentages.
• Agility and the ability to thrive in a fast paced, busy environment.
• Approachable and at your best in a team environment
• Driven, decisive and want to make a difference

Role Competencies

• Passionate about the FatFace brand and embody brand values.
• Use of Excel & Next Product System.
• Brand and commercial awareness.

Key Contacts and Relationships

• Merchandiser
• Merchandising Manager
• D, B, M and Sourcing team members and line management
• Brand team
• Channels – Retail, Ecommerce, Wholesale & Partners.
• Logistics
• Directors

Accountable for Resources

• Brand Integrity – product in line with Brand identity
• Company integrity - relationship with externals
• Financial - ensure profitability of category within Stores and Direct channels, through product strategy, working to budget.
• Stock – maximising profitability and availability.

Benefits of working with us

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Generous monthly discount allowance
• Perkbox our online platform to use from day one (this includes amazing online discounts, home workouts, wellbeing content, popular brand discounts e.c.t)
• THRIVE – Our learning management system- access from day one with 1000’s of pieces of learning
• Dental Insurance (employee funded)
• Pension scheme
• EAP support around the clock- UNUM/Retail Trust/ Fashion Textiles Support
• Sick pay allowances
• Sabbatical leave in line with service
• Enhanced Family Friendly polices i.e. Maternity Leave
• Refer a friend scheme

If this sounds like the opportunity for you then apply today