cardfactory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greetings cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland. In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer. This strategy sees significant investment into our Head Office teams creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey. 

Job Purpose: 

We are recruiting for an experienced Merchandised Planner to join our team until January 2024. With Guidance from the Senior Merchandiser you will:

• Set out budget’s & strategies for own categories that deliver profitable growth in line with the overall commercial strategy. 
• Think on your feet and make decisions at pace to ensure delivery against the key objectives.
• As well as strong merchandising skills, you will show a real desire to learn and grow, as well as a curiosity and ownership for the success of your category.

• Implement a customer driven range in line with the commercial strategy agreed with senior stakeholders with clearly defined and measurable initiatives
• Use analysis alongside knowledge of markets, customer profiles and suppliers to develop the range framework
• Devise budgets to ensure that the building blocks are in place to achieve the category strategy
• Ensure category frameworks relating to space, options, architecture and buy plans align to the overall operating model and strategic direction
• Conduct periodic reviews of performance, understanding how this may impact future performance and reflect risks and opportunities
• You will contribute to the weekly trade reviews and post implementation reviews, collaborating with cross functional teams ensuring that they are clear on priority actions and lessons learnt
• You’ll be responsible for your category stock: WSSI planning, OTB management process, purchase orders, promotional stock planning, markdown plan, clearance, total DC & store stock levels, replenishment & ordering parameters to deliver depot/supplier service targets, manage tolerance on stock commitments, availability, & reviewing forecasts
• Collaborate with key stakeholders on cross functional activity (e.g. flexible space) and provide insight and measurement to support
• Working with the Allocation team, review channel / category level forecasts to understand alignment to corporate budgeting, planning and replenishment processes identifying and taking corrective action with respective teams
• Develop and implement joint business plans for your category with suppliers in line with department strategy.  Have a clear plan around supplier classification and set specific performance targets with regular measurement and review
• By exception, liaise with global suppliers and sourcing offices to identify the most cost-effective sourcing routes
• Plan and prioritise inbound and outbound stock flow for your range/category, understanding the impact on supply, logistics and retail teams and communicating issues where appropriate
• Ensure a great customer experience through delivery of merchandising milestones within the critical path, ensuring any issues are resolved through liaising with suppliers and stakeholders

• Merchandising experience required preferably within a Non-food multi-channel retail environment
• Ability to deliver results to target, as an individual and within a team
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-moving dynamic retail environment
• Confidence to influence and engage, building relationships with key stakeholders
• Organised with strong planning capabilities

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greetings cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland.  In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer.  This strategy sees significant investment into our colleagues across the business creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey.  

In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

Benefits

• Pension
• 15% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online
• Save As You Earn scheme
• Financial Wellbeing Support       
  • Financial Education Tools
  • Salary Advance
• Seasonal incentive schemes
• Retail Management Apprenticeship Programmes with local providers with access to a virtual internal network for learning together
• Discounted gym membership, mobile phone contracts, and car leasing
• Discounts across 100’s of UK retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme – access to tools to support mental, physical, and financial wellbeing
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption leave

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

For any questions email: vacancies@cardfactory.co.uk (we do not accept CVs/Applications via email) 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly. 

No agencies, please.