Author: Aisling Rafferty

How to become a Merchandise Planner

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Do you get annoyed when you walk into a shop and can’t find a pair of jeans in your size? Merchandise Planners or Merchandisers are responsible for ensuring that the right amount of stock and enough of each size is available for the store in question. They must recognise the selling potential in products that buyers want to sell in the department. A Merchandise Planner will plan sales in accordance with this to drive profit. Find out more about what they do here.

The aim ultimately is to achieve better sales results than the previous year. Merchandisers essentially hold the purse strings of a department, responsible for having the right stock, in the right place at the right time to maximise sales and to minimise mark down. With the buyer, they will look at past performance and future trends, to predict what items will sell best and plan accordingly. Because of this Merchandisers need to be highly numerical, commercially minded and analytical. They must possess the ability to work in a fast-paced and ever-changing retail office environment.

As a merchandiser you’ll be an integral part of driving the bottom line results and sales by making commercial decisions about stock positioning and quantities. With your numerical expertise, ability to analyse sales data and ability to work closely with stores, suppliers and distribution teams in the business, you’ll ensure the best sales performance is consistently achieved.

Merchandise Planners will think and solve logically – they will have reasoning and an ability to come to commercial and financial decisions based on accurate information accumulated from analysing reports and figures.

Merchandiser’s skill-set

  • Identify trading priorities, opportunities and challenges
  • Relevant work experience and/or business related degree/course
  • Ability to analyse & interpret data
  • Commercially aware with a trading focus
  • Good communication and organisational skills
  • High proficiency using Microsoft Office programs – Excel in particular

As a recruiter, the type of people we put forward for trainee merchandising roles ideally would have the following key things on their CV….

  • A Fashion buying & merchandising course or a business/finance related degree – there are a lot of these available so shop around. Some are affiliated with the major retailers so it can be a good way to gain an internship and perhaps a job. Do your research and explore which is the best one for you. Try and speak to ex-students if you can and see what they are up to post course.
  • Retail experience (even if part time during school or college)
  • Office experience – this can show your IT skills, using internal systems, proficiency using Microsoft Office programs – Excel in particular – can you use Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs?

 

What is a Merchandise Planner?

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

There is a surplus of jobs to candidates as the demand for Merchandise Planners is higher than ever. A Merchandise Planner is a highly skilled and niche job, that offer well-paid and rewarding career paths. Establishing a career as a Merchandise Planner affords you the opportunity to be immersed in a competitive and progressive industry. Merchandise Planners are imperative to the functionality of the Fashion Industry. Their premise in a company or organisation is to ensure that the logistics in place drive profit. They are highly numerical, data driven, deciphering highly complex reports and quantitative figures and determining business based decisions on all of these facets. Another noteworthy point is the confusion between Visual Merchandisers and Merchandise Planners which we recently covered here.

Merchandise Planners have an enviable skill set. There is often misconception that to work in fashion you must be predominately creative. Merchandise Planners think and solve. They are commercially minded and analytical. While Retailers needs creativity, they also need profit and that is driven and determined by a Merchandise Planner. They will ensure that stock is in the right place at the right time. They will be astute and apace with cultural trends and demographics. They can determine in advance what stock will be needed and where it will sell best.

A store located in a young, urban and creative city will sell alternative stock than a rural location with a median population that is considerable older. The Merchandise Planner will ensure that the correct type and quantities of stock are in place in both locations to optimise sales and profit.

Merchandise Planners are high in demand. They have an amalgamation of many skills and are rewarded with competitive salaries and benefits, some which include.

  • Constant job openings with the biggest retailers, all year round
  • Paid travel and mileage
  • Being appreciated for their niche expertise
  • Broad career path and numerous choices
  • Attractive salary scale

What you need to become a Merchandise Planner

Third Level Preferred.
Degree Type Ideally within Business, Supply Chain and/or Finance
Key Skills Analytics ability, Reporting, Data analysis and proficiency, ordering systems, advanced Microsoft Office especially Excel, Negotiation. Numerical skills, Understanding of Retail Maths and how to convert to profit
Salary Entry Level: €24,000

Median Level: €50,000

Top level: €90,000
Experience 1-3 years within Retail

 

Have we got you curious? We’ve written this blog on steps to become a Merchandise Planner and outlines exactly what we look for when receiving applications for the ongoing Merchandise Planner jobs we have available. Want to work in an International buying office with the world’s biggest retailers. Merchandise Planners are just as crucial to the operation as Retail Buyers.

 

The Top 10 Worldwide brands revealed

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Unsurprisingly, Apple have retained their number one positioning as the world’s most valuable brand. Brand management firm Interbrand, carried out the analysis to ascertain the best global brands and their respected value.

Technology brands made up a considerable chunk of the 100 listings. Facebook was the biggest mover improving the brand value by 54% but residing outside of the top 10, in 23rd place.

The ranking merits brands based on an amalgamation of financial performance, customer influence and their propensity to deliver a premium price and secure profit.

The Top 10 List.

  1. Amazon
  • Brand value: $37.9 billion (€33.9bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: +29%
  • Last year’s rank: 15
  1. McDonalds
  • Brand value: $39.8 billion (€35.6bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: -6%
  • Last year’s rank: 9
  1. GE
  • Brand value: $42.3 billion (€37.8bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: -7%
  • Last year’s rank: 6
  1. Samsung
  • Brand value: $45.3 billion (€40.52bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: 0%
  • Last year’s rank: 7
  1. Toyota
  • Brand value: $49 billion (€43.83bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: +16%
  • Last year’s rank: 8
  1. IBM
  • Brand value: $65.1 billion (€58.23bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: -10%
  • Last year’s rank: 4
  1. Microsoft
  • Brand value: $67.7 billion (€60.55bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: +11%
  • Last year’s rank: 5
  1. Coca Cola
  • Brand value: $78.4 billion (€70.12bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: -4%
  • Last year’s rank: 3
  1. Google
  • Brand value: $120.3 billion (€107.6bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: +12%
  • Last year’s rank: 2
  1. Apple
  • Brand value: $170.3 billion (€152.32bn)
  • Percentage change from last year: +43%
  • Last year’s rank: 1

Article Source.

How to become a Retail Fashion Buyer

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

One of the questions we are presented with time after time is ‘How do I become a Fashion Buyer’. It is an area of immense competition and quality candidates are highly sought. However, it is not something you can walk into. Candidates require a specific skill set, retail experience and an obvious talent and desire to source. We hope to steer prospective candidates in the right direction by compiling this and many more snippets of advice within Fashion Buying. (Our Video is available to view here after you read this informative piece!). We are specialists in this field and on a weekly occurrence, place Fashion Buyers is the best International Retailers. All Retail Buyer jobs can be viewed here.

Buyers are responsible for creating an exciting and timely product assortment that meets and/or exceeds sales and profits for the company. Their role is to execute the company’s strategy while remaining customer focused. They intuitively respond to customers, market trends and develop action plans that drive category specific growth and profitability and are ultimately responsible for the success of their department.

There are two types of Buying. The first type is Selection Buying. This means you select styles and ranges from brands e.g. Nike, Levi’s etc. for your store. You will base what you buy on historical sales information such as what colours, styles etc are right for your customer, trend and also information from the brand itself (they can advise you on what their other customers are buying into for the season. This is how businesses like Brown Thomas and Arnotts for example operate.

The other type of Buying is Development. This is when buyers develop product pretty much from scratch based on past sales performance, trend information and strategy with suppliers/factories who are generally based in the places such as Turkey, Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh and India to name just a few.

The product/samples that are developed are then used in the company’s own/private label ranges e.g. Savida at Dunnes Stores, Atmosphere at Penneys. Sometimes you have a designer from your company with you, sometimes not so you need to be very creative and commercial. You really need to know your sales inside out, be really customer focused (what would they like to buy?) and be a good negotiator in order to get the best cost prices, deliveries, terms that you can. High volume textile retailers such as Penneys, Dunnes Stores and Heatons work like this.

Most retailers use both types of buying to offer their customers choice and value. To do either type though you need to be passionate about product, have a creative yet commercial aptitude, be business minded but most importantly you need to have a good eye and possess the innate ability to identify a ‘winner’.

Buyer’s skill-set

  • Be customer focused and have the ability to identify the appropriate product/trend that will appeal to the customer and ultimately drive sales
  • Have the ability to develop and build desirable and commercial ranges
  • Be able to work in a fast-paced, pressurised environment constantly juggling tasks and being able to prioritise accordingly, for the immediate and long term needs of the business
  • The ability to work and communicate with a broad mix of people from different functions in a business and understand how they contribute to the bigger picture e.g. Marketing, P.R., Quality Assurance, Online etc.
  • Being numerical and having the ability to analyse sales reports, the overall market (your direct competitors) and trends to reach commercially sound decisions which drive the business forward
  • Having a really good eye for detail – this is really important as, for example, even a button, the wrong level of red, fabric type etc can put a customer off and can lose sales
  • Possessing strong leadership skills and have an ability to delegate accordingly
  • Managing suppliers and constantly evaluating them to ensure you are getting the best terms and return for the business from each

As a recruiter, the type of people we put forward for trainee buying roles ideally would have the following key things on their CV-

  • A Fashion buying & merchandising course – there are a lot of these available so shop around. Some are affiliated with the major retailers so it can be a good way to gain an internship and perhaps a job. Do your research and explore which is the best one for you. Try and speak to ex-students if you can and see what they are up to post course
  • Retail experience (even if part time during school or college)
  • Office experience – this can show your IT skills, using internal systems, proficiency using Microsoft Office programs – Excel in particular etc.

As fashion buying is such a competitive area and roles at trainee level don’t come up very frequently, I would recommend that candidates who don’t hold these requirements apply directly to retailers that they would like to work for to try and gain experience that way.

This blog was written by Clare and Sarah, in Excel Recruitment.

NAMA consider two International bids for Dundrum Town Centre

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Project Jewel, suitable named, is a portfolio of loans that include the most prized Retail assets in Ireland. Dundrum Town Centre, Pavilons Swords and the Ilac Shopping Centre are amongst the loans. Over the past week, The National Asset Management Agency has weighed up bids from two groups of International investors.

Both investors are waiting to hear from NAMA who the preferred bidder for the portfolio is. Project Jewel is expected to trade for approx. €1.6 million. The new owner will likely work with Joe O’Reilly and his company Chartered Land to manage and develop the assets.

The portfolio sale also includes 50 per cent stakes in both the Ilac and Pavilions shopping centres in Dublin, as well as a substantial site between O’Connell Street and Moore Street.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/nama-considers-two-international-bids-for-dundrum-centre-1.2367232

Aldi to launch music streaming service to rival Spotify

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Discount Grocery Retailer Aldi will launch a music streaming service on the German market. Collaborating with Napster, ‘Aldi Life Musik’ will have unlimited access to Napsters extensive music library for €7.99 a month.

The new music service which launches today (September 24th) is a paid only service, with no free option. The service is the first of its kind on the German market and features 34 million songs, ready to go playlists, radio stations and audiobooks. Music streaming revenue in Germany rose by 87% for in the first half of this year, versus last year.

New Cinema and 65 new jobs for Dublin

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

An Odeon Cinema is set to open in North Dublin next month. Plans for the cinema had been in the pipeline for approx. 3 years. Opening on October 18th, the cinema is located in Charlestown just off the m50 and residing close to Finglas. It will create 65 new jobs and bring the total number of staff employed by the Odeon group to 440 across 11 outlets.

The 9 screen cinema will also house an iScene facility to view picture perfect high definition films on a huge screen. Douglas Breenan who is brand Manager of Odeon Ireland commented “We’re very excited to be a new part of the Finglas community, and are delighted to have 65 new colleagues joining our team.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/cinema-dublin-creating-65-jobs-2336396-Sep2015/?utm_source=twitter_self

Greggs is coming to Ireland

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

A powerhouse throughout the UK, Greggs have announced they will open their first Irish store in The Republic. Most known for their expansive fresh offerings of pastries, sandwiches, sausage rolls, breads and snacks, Greggs will open in a Dublin Applegreen Service Station.

Greggs have more stores in the UK than fast food giant McDonalds, typifying its popularity amongst British consumers. Recently a Greggs opened on the M2 at a service station close to Belfast.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/greggs-ireland-new-menu-pastries-2333397-Sep2015/

Lloyds pharmacy’s to buy McCauley Chemists

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Llyoyds pharmacy, which formerly operated as Doc Morris looks set to buy out the McCauley Chemist group across Ireland. A report by the Sunday Times suggests, Lloyds pharmacy will looks to strengthen their Irish operations by buying 28 stores that McCauley operate nationwide.

Again, according to reports, the takeover is believed to be worth around €40 – €50 million and are in an advanced stage of talks. Lloyds currently have 93 stores across the country and are already the largest pharmacy group in Ireland.

Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/lloyds-mccauleys-2329159-Sep2015/

Primark in the USA | 1 Day to go

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

Primark is one of our favourite Retailers in Excel Recruitment. As well as recruiting for them, we adore the fashion and value for money concepts that spreads through a range of divisions. Their leap towards beauty, with salons in selected stores saw them establish themselves as one of the most innovative and progressive retailers. Their opening in Boston on September 10th will see them make retail history. We trawled through Instagram with the #PrimarkUSA hashtag to bring you the most exciting photos as they prepare to launch. Best of luck from everyone in Excel Recruitment.

10354322_491821837652282_589367863_n 11311525_1653936268155865_457599069_n 11355902_740369379422425_273065879_n 11371024_671998686233778_955856945_n(1) 11821961_576799485794162_693330213_n 11906313_914918828591330_2714096_n 11909199_749321851846573_297606076_n 11917853_1700578453508543_308087031_n 11950651_1034611126605657_1503091808_n(1) 11910196_1496427383988288_537911132_n(1)

 

All images found under the #primarkusa hashtag with a total of 368 images.

Instagram Sources: @primark, @lj.preston, @birdy.fashion, @jaynebibby, @its_justme_j, @diwali2512, @wendug,