About the job
THE ROLE
Join us at Debenhams Group as we embark on an exciting journey of transformation, breathing new life into our brand, culture, and our relationships with colleagues and customers. In today’s dynamic retail landscape, effective and authentic communication is essential for building trust, aligning teams, and enhancing the impact of our work with both internal and external audiences.
We are seeking a passionate and driven Merchandiser to become a vital member of our team at Karen Millen. In this role, which emphasizes trading and collaboration, you'll partner closely with the Buying team and regularly present performance insights to our Senior Leadership team. You will assume complete responsibility for planning and trading across your assigned product categories, leveraging strategic insight and analysis to drive commercial success.
This position is based out of our Central London office.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
In light of recent structural changes, brand repositioning, and workforce transformation, you will establish robust and transparent relationships within the Buying and Merchandising teams, supported by accurate and insightful data. You will contribute to the broader Merchandising function, ensuring that the buying strategy aligns effectively with our business objectives. Your responsibilities will include maintaining essential frameworks, controls, and capabilities to facilitate long-term planning and in-season trading, all focused on maximizing commercial performance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead reporting and presentations in weekly and monthly trade meetings
- Take full ownership of all Karen Millen categories, proactively managing sales, profitability, and stock levels
- Analyze daily and weekly sales performance to inform decisions regarding rebuys and markdowns
- Identify underperforming and overperforming products, implementing trading actions to capitalize on opportunities and mitigate risks
- Manage departmental WSSI through accurate forecasting of demand, OTB, returns, AVSP, and margin
- Oversee critical path management, addressing any issues promptly
- Prepare and deliver comprehensive trading reports and packs, while also identifying and executing improvements in reporting across the Buying & Merchandising function
- Advance your department by employing a strategic and structured approach through effective planning and framework development
- Collaborate with Buying and Design teams to strengthen supplier relationships
- Mentor and coach junior team members to support their professional growth
- Exhibit a clear understanding of how your role contributes to the overall business strategy

