Head of Merchandising

Job content

ARNE is a direct to consumer, apparel and footwear brand/retailer based in Birchwood Park near Warrington, UK. We design and develop our products in the UK, manufacture in the near & far east and then ship directly to our customers, with ARNECLO.com ecommerce store as our only sales channel.

We have ambitious objectives over the next decade with the team believing all targets are achievable through new product category launches in shoes and womenswear alongside the creation of paid media, CRM activity and further international growth to amplify the great product / brand assets we have already created.

Reporting directly into the Chief Commercial Officer the Head of Merchandising (HOM) will work with the CCO to support the Merchandising & Product function to ensure that the right product is bought for customers in line with the company strategy and objectives.

We are looking for a strong experienced Merchandising Manager or current Head of Merchandising to take on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment within a small growing function looking to expand over the coming months.

You will be a strong leader who can manage, motivate, and lead the merchandising team.

So if you are creative with a keen eye for detail, have a passion for the fashion industry and want to join us on our exciting journey please apply today!

Requirements

• Works with the CCO & CFO to sign off department strategies and budgets, ensuring that these fit within the overall merchandising/product strategy and financial goals of the company.
• Owns and reviews the stock levels, stock quality, availability, commitment, cover, OTB and product margin for all ranges.
• Planning budgets by category, option count based on the overall business and financial goals of the company.
• Ensuring overall level of newness vs repeat allows the product range mix to be optimal to achieve planned sales, including seasonal changes and promotions at the correct service levels.
• Creation and Management of WSSI’s at category level. Reviews & re-forecasts monthly WSSI’s with the CCO to ensure WSSI’s and commitment levels are in line with expectations.
• Create and develop a high performing team, with clear KPIs, to drive revenue and customer engagement, supported by a best-in-class reporting suite that allows real time actionable insight.
• Ensures that the product function has all the necessary reporting to work within business targets financially over the long term and within season.
• Monitors and maintains product and achieved product margins.
• Review’s sales forecasts based on performance re forecasts where necessary.
• Analyses and monitors best and worst sellers and makes informed recommendations for action to maintain stock quality.
• Develops a strong merchandising team to ensure the future growth of the business.
• Demonstrates knowledge of competitor activity including product range & pricing strategy.
• Feeds strategic options into the businesses 5-year plan.
• Any other ad hoc duties as required
  
  

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Leads and manages the merchandising function in a unified way, ensuring strong and effective working relationships with the product team and other key functions are maintained throughout.
• Ensure the strategy is clear and that stakeholders are engaged.
• Understands, communicates, and manages employees to achieve the goals of the company.
• Develops team succession planning to identify, select and develop talent to meet future growth plans.
  
  

Essential Experience And Skills

• Very Strong analytic background with the ability to analyse the data and use the data to drive actions within the team
• Currently operating at Merch Manager Head of level within a merchandising and stock forecasting environment
• Demonstrable commercial breadth: must have a good grasp of the broader operational and supply chain issues and how they impact the ‘product’ agenda.
• Leadership skills to lead a team and engage/influence multiple stakeholders at all levels of the business
• Experience within a start-up culture helping to establish a Merch function with a start-up mentality and approach, able to think operationally and strategically
• Highly competent with Excel, able to manipulate data to produce insightful analysis and summaries.
• Pro-active & organised
• Commercially aware and the ability to relate business needs and requirements in a compelling and understandable way
• An excellent communicator to instigate and maintain excellent working relationships with suppliers, third parties and business stakeholders
  
  

Benefits

• 24 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Option to buy / sell holidays
• Private Healthcare including Dental & Optical Plans after probation
• Generous staff discount
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme
  
  

ARNE are an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diverse people bring different skills and are committed to ensuring our business support the needs of potential colleagues from Ethnic Minority backgrounds and colleagues who may be disabled or neurodiverse. We are committed creating a great place to work through diversity and inclusivity and we strongly encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds to join our growing team.