Merchandising Director

ARNE is a direct to consumer, apparel and footwear brand/retailer based in Birchwood Park near Warrington, UK. We design and develop our products in the UK, manufacture in the near & far east and then ship directly to our customers, with ARNECLO.com ecommerce store as our only sales channel. We have ambitious objectives over the next decade with the team believing all targets are achievable through new product category launches in shoes and womenswear alongside the creation of paid media, CRM activity and further international growth to amplify the great product / brand assets we have already created. Reporting directly into the Chief Commercial Officer the Merchandising Director will work with the CCO to support the Merchandising & Product function to ensure that the right product is bought for customers in line with the company strategy and objectives. We are looking for a strong experienced Head of Merchandising or current Director to take on the challenge of working in a fast-paced environment within a small growing function looking to expand over the coming months. You will be a strong leader who can manage, motivate, and lead the merchandising team. So if you are creative with a keen eye for detail, have a passion for the fashion industry and want to join us on our exciting journey please apply today! Requirements Develop and implement strategic merchandise plans that align with overall business objectives and sales targets. Analyse market trends, consumer preferences, and competitors to identify growth opportunities. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design and marketing, to ensure a cohesive and market-relevant product assortment. Oversee the planning, allocation, and replenishment processes to optimise inventory levels and maximise sales. Lead the development and execution of seasonal product launches, promotional events, and markdown strategies. Build and maintain strong vendor relationships, negotiate terms, and ensure timely delivery of merchandise. Utilise data analytics and performance metrics to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement. Manage a team of merchandising professionals, providing leadership, mentorship, and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.   Leadership Responsibilities: Leads and manages the merchandising function in a unified way, ensuring strong and effective working relationships with the product team and other key functions are maintained throughout. Ensure the strategy is clear and that stakeholders are engaged. Understands, communicates, and manages employees to achieve the goals of the company. Develops team succession planning to identify, select and develop talent to meet future growth plans. Essential Experience and Skills Very Strong analytic background with the ability to analyse the data and use the data to drive actions within the team Currently operating at Head of Merchandising or Merchandising Director role within the fashion industry Must have multichannel experience, covering online, wholesale, retail Demonstrable commercial breadth: must have a good grasp of the broader operational and supply chain issues and how they impact the ‘product’ agenda. Leadership skills to lead a team and engage/influence multiple stakeholders at all levels of the business Experience within a start-up culture helping to establish a Merch function with a start-up mentality and approach, able to think operationally and strategically Highly competent with Excel, able to manipulate data to produce insightful analysis and summaries. Commercially aware and the ability to relate business needs and requirements in a compelling and understandable way An excellent communicator to instigate and maintain excellent working relationships with suppliers, third parties and business stakeholders Benefits 32 Days Holiday (including Bank Holidays) + your Birthday off Holidays increasing up to 36 days with service Option to buy / sell holidays Generous staff discount Private Healthcare including Dental & Optical Plans after probation Health Cash Plan from day one Life assurance paying 5x annual salary from day one Discounted marketplace with money off/cash back from 100’s of places Employee Assistance Programme Cycle to Work Scheme Tech Scheme ARNE are an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diverse people bring different skills and are committed to ensuring our business support the needs of potential colleagues from Ethnic Minority backgrounds and colleagues who may be disabled or neurodiverse. We are committed creating a great place to work through diversity and inclusivity and we strongly encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds to join our growing team.