Working Pattern: Typically 5 days in the office, with core hours flexible between 8am-6pm. The Role NEXT is recruiting for an Assistant Merchandiser for our Brands team • Sportswear. What You’ll Take On Building Relationships: Across new, existing and potential partners to unlock growth opportunities. You will be one of our Brand Partners main contacts with Next. Professionalism and calmness are musts as is the ability to persuade and reach mutually beneficial outcomes. Monitoring In-Season Performance and Trading Opportunities: Track sales performance, inventory levels, and markdowns throughout the season. Identify trends and patterns to make informed decisions and adjustments. Implement strategies to maximise profitability and minimise risk. Formulating Range Structure Proposals: Analyse market trends, consumer preferences, and sales data to identify opportunities as well as develop range structures that align with the brands’ positioning and target market. Present proposals outlining assortment plans, pricing strategies, and key product features. Presenting in Internal and External Meetings: Prepare visually engaging presentations that effectively communicate range proposals. Clearly articulate rationale behind proposals, incorporating data and insights. Address questions and concerns from stakeholders with confidence and clarity. Appraising Performance and Proposing Strategies: Evaluate previous season performance, departmental metrics, and supplier performance. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and propose strategies to address performance gaps and capitalise on opportunities. Maintaining Merchandise Systems: Ensure accuracy in merchandise systems by updating data regularly. Confirm supplier contracts and maintain correct sizing, forecasts, and inventory levels. Conduct regular audits to identify and resolve discrepancies. Responsible for preparing and communicating data and sales information to the brands. Controlling Spend: Review budgets regularly to monitor spending and identify opportunities for cost savings. Analyse spending patterns and implement strategies to optimise allocation of resources. Negotiate favourable terms with suppliers to achieve cost efficiencies. Guiding Trainees and Managing Tasks: Provide clear direction and support to trainees, setting expectations and goals. Delegate tasks effectively, providing guidance and feedback as needed. Monitor progress and provide coaching to help trainees and assistants develop skills and confidence. What You’ll Bring Great Communication Skills: Prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and 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. You must be confident in dealing with senior brand partners and their team in order to build a trust based relationship. 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, recognising 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. 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 [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. #LI-Onsite 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! * 25 days holiday plus bank holidays • Profit-related bonus - based on company performance • Private health insurance- surgery choices • Sharesave scheme - make savings from your net pay to buy NEXT shares at a discount • Pension - fixed contribution rates from both an employer and employee perspective, but you're also able to make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) if you wish to save more. * 25% staff discount on most NEXT products - plus discount on other products • Wagestream - helping you make the most out of your money • Salary finance - offers access to affordable loans repaid through salary, simple savings and free financial education. • Life assurance • Direct to work • NEXT orders delivered free to the office for collection • VIP sale - early access to the NEXT sale • Access to NEXT staff shops • Octopus energy - like cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles • Free parking (excluding London locations) • Travel2NEXT - bus services dependent on location • On site dining facilities (excluding London locations) • National and local discounts on goods and services - this includes things like discounted cinema tickets • Wellhub - includes access to discounted gym membership • Simply health - a healthcare subscription service • Aviva Digicare Workplace+ healthcare service - 7 Free services including Digital GP appointments and an annual health check. • Onsite GP • Leicester Head Office • Onsite Physio • Leicester Head Office • A range of dedicated 3rd party wellbeing partners • Free eye testing - voucher to use at specific locations Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change. 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.