Assistant Merchandiser - Brands; Footwear

About the Role

Based at Head Office in Enderby, Leicestershire.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Brands team and broaden your knowledge. We focus on quality in UK retail and sell thousands of items an hour with a strong repeat customer base for renowned quality products. This role is suitable for anyone in the Brands field who wants to learn, grow and thrive.

• Liaising with Global Footwear Brands and Curating Collections: act as the main point of contact for external brands such as Dr. Martens, Timberland, Birkenstock and collaborate to curate commercial collections that align with customer preferences and market trends. Ensure timely communication and collaboration to facilitate smooth trading processes.
• Driving Sales Profitability and Building Relationships: develop strategies to grow sales and profitability for key brands while fostering excellent relationships. Identify opportunities for revenue growth and margin improvement through merchandising and pricing strategies. Build rapport with brand representatives to strengthen partnerships.
• Autonomous Management of Key Brands: take ownership of the performance of key brands, including managing sales budgets and profit targets.
• Internal Collaboration and Business Knowledge: liaise with internal departments to ensure alignment and support for brand initiatives and develop a comprehensive understanding of the company’s business operations and objectives to inform decision-making and strategy development.
• Managing Sales Budgets and Profit: develop and manage sales budgets for key brands, monitor performance against targets and implement strategies to optimise profitability.
• Preparing Packs and Conducting Brand Visits: prepare comprehensive packs prior to selection meetings, providing insights into historical performance and future opportunities. conduct brand visits to select future season ranges and review trading performance.
• In-Season Trading and Markdown Management: monitor in-season sales performance to identify opportunities for maximising sales and minimising markdowns; implement trading strategies to optimise inventory levels and pricing in line with sales targets.
• Training and Nurturing Trainee Merchandisers: take an active role in training and mentoring trainee merchandisers, providing guidance and support for their development.

• Great Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  prepare clear and engaging presentations for internal meetings and brand partner discussions. tailor communication style to the audience and actively listen to feedback.
• Solid Technical Merchandising
  
  Skills:
  
  analyse data, forecast sales, and plan inventory. ensure accuracy in merchandise systems and contract negotiations to support trading relationships. stay updated on industry best practices.
• Energetic, Enthusiastic, and Self-Confident: approach the role with energy and confidence, especially when presenting information or leading discussions.
• Open-Mindedness to New Ways of Working: embrace innovation, be receptive to feedback, and promote continuous improvement within the team.
• Enjoyment of the Product/Trend Side of the Role: stay informed about products and trends and collaborate with design teams and brand partners to bring innovative products to market.

Joining the Brands Team at Next during this period of growth is an incredible opportunity. As an Assistant Merchandiser, you will foster relationships with external brands and curate collections that resonate with customers and market trends. This is an exciting time to be part of a team at the forefront of expanding Next’s brand offerings.

Candidates requiring sponsorship for this role must meet Home Office sponsorship requirements. For information see:

We encourage early applications as the recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If the position is filled early, this advert may close sooner than planned.

Next is a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 35,000 people across the UK and Ireland. We are the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and market leader in Kidswear. We have over 500 stores plus Next Online and online sales in over 70 countries.

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Profit-related bonus (company performance)
• Private health insurance and related benefits
• Sharesave and pension schemes
• Staff discounts on Next products and other benefits
• Wellbeing and financial services benefits
• Onsite facilities and local discounts where applicable

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and provide workplace adjustments as needed. If you need support due to disability or long-term condition, please email  (include "Workplace Adjustments" in the subject) or call  with a voicemail.