Merchandiser - Kids Arts & Crafts

The Works Stores Ltd; England; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

1- 2 days at our Support Centre and 3-4 days working from home.

Why The Works?

10th Best Big Company to Work For 2024 - 'Best Companies'

We don’t just sell products.
We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

The Works. It literally means everything. And whatever your story or background, we’re all about unlocking imagination and making creativity accessible to everyone. Whether you’re engaging with customers on the frontline or supporting our colleagues behind the scenes, your impact can be profound and far-reaching.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

Become a Merchandiser for our Kids Arts & Crafts Category

As aMerchandiser at The Works, you'll be responsible for optimising product displays and inventory to boost sales and enhance the shopping experience. This role involves strategic product placement, market research, collaboration with suppliers, and effective inventory management. Merchandisers ensure that products are attractively presented and available in the right quantities, contributing to a dynamic and engaging retail environment.

Your Mission

• Coach and develop direct reports to potentialise performance.
• Oversee timely delivery of stock into the warehouse, to maximise availability in line with agreed KPI's and timelines for all channels.
• Ensure on-time delivery through supporting the achievement of merchandising milestones within the critical path, ensuring any issues are resolved or raised where appropriate, and negotiating confidently with suppliers accordingly.
• Work within stock budgets to ensure stock is maintained throughout the year at the correct levels, particularly through peak periods including new product range launches, Christmas, promotion periods.
• Accountable for order management in line with agreed parameters and critical path.
• Own and manage category/range & SKU level forecasts to ensure sales, stock holding, margin and availability is optimised.
• Able to maintain and update the WSSI and line card management and will have had exposure to OTB and budget management.
• Plan and present product ranges alongside Buyer (with support of Senior merchandiser), with considerations of budget, space, ranking, buy quantities and intake phasing.
• Review attribute analysis to support range reviews and promotional analysis providing clear recommendations.
• Review weekly trading performance to identify issues and opportunities, providing clear actions to maximise profitability.
• Deliver the sales in line with budget and agreed strategy.

Skills/Behaviours That Will Set You Apart

• Demonstrate commercial and financial awareness.
• Strong numerical skills and ability to analyse and interpret data with recommendations.
• Experience of working in a fast paced trading environment.
• Currently a Merchandiser, or a Junior Merchandiser looking for your next challenge, able to demonstrate experience of forecasting and updating a WSSI.
• Evidence of developing and training in your current role.
• Passionate - in everything you do - a positive attitude, motivated and enthusiastic.
• Team Player - a collaborative team member who enjoys building relationships with people.
• Highly organised - you can prioritise tasks and work to deadlines.
• Commercial mindset - you have a strong commercial awareness, able to see opportunities and help make business decisions.
• Strong communicator – good verbal and written communication skills.
• Analytical - you enjoy working with data, interpreting information and making decisions based on facts.
• Innovative thinking - an entrepreneurial attitude and way of thinking.
• Customer focus - you put the customer at the centre of everything you do.
• Problem solving - you proactively identify issues and their causes, with proposed solutions.

Being a great leader

As a great leader with wonderful people skills, you'll create an environment that's more than just co-workers — it's a team.

• Align Goals with Values: Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose. This helps colleagues see the bigger picture and understand how their work contributes to the overall mission.
• Clear Communication: Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles. Regularly share updates, encourage open dialogue and have regular check-ins.
• Role Model: Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team, such as punctuality, responsibility, and being a brand ambassador.
• Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback regularly. Recognise achievements and address areas for improvement in a supportive and continuous growth manner.
• Empower Your Team: Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them. This builds confidence and promotes professional growth.
• Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and fairly. Foster an environment where issues can be discussed openly and resolved amicably.
• Empathy: Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members. This helps in building strong, supportive relationships.

And let's not forget about the most important part… your team's well-being and aspirations. You'll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on. You'll have amazing everyday conversations with your team, discussing everything from their performance to their wildest career aspirations.

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’

• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
• Holiday – 33 days including bank holidays.
• Holiday Purchase - Purchase an additional 5 days.
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development in areas that interest you.
• Wagestream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them – for when ‘life’ happens!
• Share Scheme - Unleash your inner Monopoly mogul and own a piece of The Works!
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust who provide an Employee Assistance Programme and so much more!
• And loads more! – Long Service Awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose

To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play - making lives more fulfilled.

Our Values

We are Crafty | We are Caring | We are Can-do

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions. We want to know what’s going great, and what needs a couple of tweaks to help make The Works the best place you’ve ever worked! You’ll have opportunity to help give us that direction.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments

At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, carers & members of the LGBTQ+ community (including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, non-binary, or use another term).

We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. And, where possible, we'll try to support this. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview you might attend with us, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!