Job Description
JOB TITLE: Assistant Merchandiser
REPORTS TO: Merchandiser
Founded in 1992, Pennsylvania, USA, by current URBN chairman and president Dick Hayne, Anthropologie was named after his college major (with a decidedly French twist) Anthropologie, which now operates over 200 stores worldwide, has evolved into a leading one-of-a-kind destination for those seeking a curated mix of clothing, accessories, gifts and home décor to reflect their personal style. In 2009 the brand launched its first store in London and currently has 18 stores in the UK and 6 in Europe. Anthropologie Europe is owned by URBN, a portfolio of global consumer brands including Urban Outfitters, Free People, BHLDN, Terrain and the Vetri Family.
Role Summary
This is an amazing opportunity for an Assistant Merchandiser to join our Anthropologie Home Office team.
Anthropologie is a dynamic and ambitiously expanding Womens retailer that prides itself on being creatively unique and of high quality, both through our Stores and our Online business. This is a fantastic chance to work for an outstanding retailer on one of their high growth departments.
Anthropologie delivers a shopping experience unlike any other, offering a diverse assortment of Women’s fashion, Accessories and Shoes, Home Décor and Furniture which constantly changes and exhibits a range of influences from vintage to global. We also collaborate with artists and designers that we have discovered from all over the globe, from ceramicists in South Africa to artisans in Wales.
Customers delight in Anthropologie’s handwriting and diversity with merchandise constantly changing and exhibiting a broad range of influences.
The role of the assistant planner is to maximize sales and profit by developing sound merchandise plans that support Company goals for Sales, Full price sell thru, Stock turn and Margin.
What You’ll Be Doing:
• Supporting merchandiser with smooth running of the Womenswear division, being able to
independently see tasks through to completion unsupervised, including regular reforecasting and Seasonal planning.
• Responsible for generating analysis to help support buying decisions across a wide variety of attributes, including but not exclusive to, size, price, colour, and fit. Both for total womens business and by Retail and Direct independently.
• Monitor and evaluate sales of current styles on a weekly basis, partnering with the buyer and merchandiser to support and drive in season trading to maintain intake and profit margin.
• Ownership of line flows and reorders into the business. Liaise with the buying team in terms of required deliveries.
• Support Merchandiser with analytics to shape future option merchandising.
• Identify inventory levels needed to support the rate of sale and the markdown strategy for a
merchandise area based on sell-through percent, WOS, and planned product life span.
• Managing the markdown process - identifying lines to markdown while constantly reviewing need for further markdown spend through the sale period. Summarising to present to Merchandiser for sign off.
• Managing and progressing an allocator. As well managing the allocation strategy, adapting to
in season trade and buy strategy.
• Implementing and exploiting new systems and processes.
What You’ll Need:
• Strong command of retail math concepts and applications.
• Strong statistical analysis skills.
• Strong communication skills in order to build relationships across all areas of the business,
from your team, throughout head office and to the DC and shipping team.
• Proactive and enthusiastic with strong interest in the retail market.
• Excellent organizational, prioritizing and problem-solving skills key to meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work well within a small team environment.
• Technical skills including advanced Excel skill and proficiency with retail systems.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Displaying leadership and management skills.
• Develop strong partnerships with buyers to understand their vision and direction, establish
an understanding of the customer ad buying trends.
The Perks
· Work-life balance:
· Flexible start and finish times
· Bring your dog to work
· Wellbeing:
· Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health
· Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount off external gym memberships
· Private Medical Insurance
· Employee Discount:
· Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People and more!)
· Community:
· One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
· Travel:
· Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
· Continued Development:
· We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development