Merchandiser, Retail

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced Merchandiser to join Finisterre on a 12-month maternity cover contract. As a Merchandiser, you will be responsible for driving range building and trade planning activities across the requisite categories, collaborating closely to implement merchandising strategies while continuously reviewing and improving processes to drive efficiencies. You will ensure key KPIs are delivered as you support growth across all channels.

Born two decades ago from the needs of hardy British surfers, Finisterre creates enduring outdoor wear for an inspired life in and around the ocean. Proudly B Corp certified, we have committed to a deep belief: to make truly exceptional products in a more responsible and transparent way.

Whether based at our cliff top headquarters in St. Agnes, Cornwall, or in one of our retail locations across the UK, Finisterre is a truly unique brand and career proposition.

Perched a few hundred meters from the crashing Atlantic, our HQ es' Wheal Kitty Workshops is at the heart of our brand. Here we stay true to our original design ethos of functionality and sustainability brought to life in an understated style and identity, always remaining committed to product, environment, and people.

As we enter the next exciting stage of global growth, we are on the lookout for talented individuals to join our crew. So, if you are as passionate about the ocean as we are and if you want to be part of a truly authentic, purpose‑led brand and you share our vision to create exceptional products in a responsible way, then we would love to hear from you.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the range strategy working collaboratively with the buying team to provide category financial framework of options to support the topline business growth
• Creating seasonal forecasts bottom up with ROS and sell through for products in collaboration with the buying team with use of ranking and pareto to ensure forecasts are inline with sales plans, GM and FP sell thought targets
• Ownership of category financials from option planning through to terminal stock management
• Work cross functionally with buying, design, and product development to build seasonal ranges, providing feedback on product/styles/colour in season sales performance
• Present category plans and buy proposals and provide insights from prior season performance to sign off with C suite
• Demonstrate awareness of market trends and use this along with customer insights to inform range planning decisions
• Work with VM team to align in store range with option plan delivering a cohesive and optimised range by store cluster
• Work with buying to develop a flexible range that allows potential to trade OTB and stretch to budget where required

• Produce, analyse and provide insights and actions for key trading meetings
• Produce detailed analysis of sales performance against plan at a department and category level in conjunction with the buying team to identify risks and opportunities and propose actions
• Accountable for category performance and working with commercial and marketing teams to trade through any under/over performances ensuring closing stock is managed to plan
• Responsible for department WSSI, reforecasting forward sales against commitment, providing insights to Head of Merch to assist future budgeting and to provide weekly updates in WSSI meeting in terms of end of season terminal stock view
• Manage category line cards for continuity styles to ensure excellent stock availability and agreeing any OTB with SLT in WSSI reviews
• Work with MAA to exploit opportunities in individual store performance and range selection in future seasons. Build strong relationships with the retail team through regular store visits
• Provide up to date information to the ecom and marketing teams to support trading on a weekly basis
• Oversee launch fulfilment and availability targets with MAA to ensure strong product launches and ensure any changes communicated full to the wider team
• Understand and control impact of price changes on department margin and report on this
• Review, propose and…