Commercial Merchandiser

Exceptional product and Exceptional people are at the heart of everything that we do at Vida.
We are seeking an experienced, passionate and driven Merchandiser to join the Vida Team. You will manage key elements of our supplier relationships and purchasing commitments. You will control product budget spend against revenue targets across multiple markets. The management of product gross margins and appropriate stock cover levels, ensuring Vida’s customers always have the right product available at the right time.

Role objective

Ownership of budget spend for all market channels, which involves forecasting and stock management to ensure optimum availability on both continuity (Never Out of Stock) and seasonal lines.

Key accountabilities:
Strategy
•Working closely with our Senior Inventory & Supply Chain manager, strategise and develop product merchandising plans for each of our revenue markets
•Analyse historical sales data, customer feedback, and market trends to anticipate future product demand
•Oversee inventory levels and liaise with supplier partners to meet order fulfilment targets and avoid waste of over supply
•Collaborate with suppliers to negotiate favourable terms on pricing, quantities, and delivery schedules
•Drive maximum product profitability/gross margin within each product line
•Monitor stock movements and implement strategies like markdowns, promotions, and clear-outs to optimize inventory management
•Aligned with sales targets plan and allocate budget for each stage of the buying cycle throughout the year. Total ownership on budget spend
•Input and ultimate ownership of product financial budgeting and forecasting processes
•Provide analysis and recommendations that actively contribute to the building of the range framework for each season. (cull/remove underperforming ranges in a timely manner)
•Supports the Product Development team with checks & balances throughout the range building process
•Produce SWOT analysis on product performance to inform future development/purchasing
•Ensures selling price data and intake margin data is accurate and up to date on all systems

Forecasting & Budget Spend Planning
•Establish and enforce forecast planning rules of engagement and associated cut offs
•Establish accurate demand planning methods, to ensure true demand only is recognised
•Working with sales team produce accurate forecasting models to deliver planned sales and profitability by region/market
•Analyse key inputs such as historical performance, customer feedback, exiting stock etc in producing accurate forecasts
•Balance product budget spend to maximise revenue returns for Vida
•Ensure that Vida’s stock holding mix has the correct balance between existing and new
•Ensure that annual product catalogue is backed with appropriate stock levels
•Regularly analysing product performance to maximise commercial opportunities
•Working alongside NPI to ensure commercially suitable ranges are offered to the customer
•Total ownership of approved forecast plan and budget spend

Intake/Stock management
•Establish and enforce stock management rules of engagement and control to ensure maximum revenue returns for Vida
•Maintain a healthy inventory with strong stock turn potential at all times
•Ensures the appropriate balance of spend on Existing Product vs New Product, to minimise risk to the business
•Ensures that NOS – “Never Out of Stock” lines are always available for our customers
•Manages product intake flow in line with seasonal launch and cash flow plans to ensure the availability targets are met
•Working closely with NPI team, ensures that the new ranges are ordered, and any issues solved in a timely fashion to ensure that all range achieves the season launch dates
•Establish KPI’s for the professional and effective management of in-house stock at all times
Supplier Management
•Providing an appropriate level of data analysis and insights that can be shared with relevant teams to aid decision making and gain buy in for ideas
•Resolving issues that may arise protecting product critical path, ensuring availability
•Regularly communicate to supply partners to ensure that key messages and movements in forecast are communicated clearly.
•Constantly seeking opportunities to maximise both intake and profit margin against plan
•Driving, adapting and adjusting department strategy in season based on trade performance
•Reviews KPIs regularly to ensure any exceptions are highlighting to management

Trade and Analytics
•Review products to ensure we identify reasons for poor performance and put plans in place to fix those issues with appropriate stakeholders, e.g. NPI, imagery, product content, merchandising
•Provide detailed reporting and insight on trade performance trends and opportunities using analytical tools
•Manage data to steer campaign launches, new product launches.
•Assists in the updates and forecasts the company stock control documents
•Runs the product level analysis to calculate quantities and timings for repeat orders

Key Skills
•Seeking opportunities to continuously improve ways of working
•Demonstrating a global mindset, discussing and sharing opportunities and risks with other depts to influence strategy and drive performance

•Has a proven track record in Furniture Merchandising within a fast-paced environment
•Shows a great understanding of customer segmentation and reflects this in decision making
•Demonstrates a commercial and analytical mindset, using data and insights to leverage opportunities that successfully contribute to Vida
•Shows strong awareness of current trends, Retail market conditions and opportunities within a Global context
•Builds great relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers
•Has an effective and inclusive management style, role modelling positive behaviours
•Brings high energy and fun to the workplace everday!