Footwear Merchandiser - Fashion Brand - Peterborough

We are seeking a commercially focused and highly organised Footwear Merchandiser to take full ownership of one of the fastest-growing categories within a leading UK fashion brand. This is a pivotal role in shaping seasonal footwear ranges, ensuring stock is managed effectively and sales and margins are maximised across retail, ecommerce, and wholesale channels. Based at their brand-new, state-of-the-art headquarters, this is an exciting opportunity to influence the future growth of the footwear category in a dynamic fashion business.

Key Responsibilities

Own the merchandising strategy for the footwear department, ensuring seasonal ranges meet commercial targets.
Analyse weekly sales and stock performance, highlighting risks and opportunities to maximise profit.
Manage the full lifecycle of footwear product lines – from intake through to markdown strategy.
Maintain and update the WSSI, ensuring stock levels, intake, and open-to-buy are aligned to budgets and KPIs.
Work closely with Buyers to deliver balanced ranges by category (casual, formal, seasonal, sports-inspired), ensuring the right price points and mix across channels.
Monitor sell-through rates and availability, taking action on repeats, cancellations, and rebuys where necessary.
Provide accurate forecasts to inform planning and ensure continuity of best-selling footwear styles.
Track competitor and market trends within footwear to support commercial decisions and drive innovation.
Collaborate with Logistics, Finance, and Retail to ensure smooth deliveries and stock flow.
Build strong supplier relationships, negotiating costs and delivery timelines specific to footwear production.
Support seasonal sign-off meetings with clear data-driven insights on category performance.

What We’re Looking For

Proven experience in merchandising, ideally with specific expertise in footwear (men’s, women’s, or both).
Strong commercial awareness and a genuine passion for footwear product.
Solid understanding of footwear lifecycle – including fit approvals, size ratios, and supplier lead times.
Excellent analytical and forecasting skills with advanced Excel knowledge.
Highly organised with the ability to manage complex critical paths across multiple suppliers.
Confident communicator with proven ability to influence Buyers, Suppliers, and Senior Stakeholders.
Resilient, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
A degree in a relevant discipline (business, merchandising, fashion) desirable.

What We Offer