Retail Merchandising Lead – Germiston at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• A modern retail brand that resonates with today’s customers is seeking a Retail Merchandising Lead who is a strong brand builder, responsible for transforming the retail offering by developing a stationery and adjacent product range that is fresh, relevant, and profitable. This role goes beyond traditional buying, focusing instead on end-to-end product and brand strategy. 
• The Retail Merchandising Lead will own the category P&L and carry full accountability for sales, margin, stock productivity, and brand execution. They will have authority over range selection, product lifecycle decisions, and customer proposition within defined financial parameters, while working closely with the Head of Retail Planning on OTB, WSSI, allocation frameworks, pricing strategy, and markdown planning.
• This is a high-impact role with the autonomy to challenge legacy approaches and innovate freely, shaping a compelling product range that drives customer engagement, commercial success, and long-term brand growth

DUTIES:

Brand-Aligned Product Strategy

• Develop and maintain a stationery and adjacencies assortment that reflects the retail vision, customer trends, and profitability goals
• Drive innovation and differentiation in product selection to position the brand as relevant and aspirational
• Integrate sustainable product selection and ethical sourcing into category strategy
• Build strong partnerships with Category Managers to secure competitive pricing, favourable trading terms, and marketing support

Commercial Performance Management

• Own category P&L including sales, margin, and stock turn targets for the stationery category
• Implement pricing strategies and promotional plans to maximize profitability
• Monitor category performance against financial targets and adjust strategies to achieve goals

Market & Trend Analysis

• Monitor competitor activity, global trends, and customer insights to inform buying decisions
• Introduce new products and seasonal ranges that excite customers and strengthen brand identity
• Leverage BI tools, AI-driven trend forecasting, and market data to anticipate customer demand

Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination

• Work with planning teams to ensure optimal stock levels and reduce aged inventory
• Manage replenishment cycles and resolve supply chain challenges proactively
• Collaborate with Head of Retail Planning on allocation rules and markdown cadence

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Brand Storytelling

• Partner with marketing and merchandising teams to create compelling campaigns and in-store experiences
• Contribute to brand storytelling through product selection and presentation
• Collaborate with visual merchandising to ensure brand execution across multiple branches nationwide

REQUIREMENTS:

Technical Skills

• Retail Buying & Category Management
• Product Development & Range Planning
• Pricing Strategy & Promotional Planning
• Supplier Negotiation & Contract Management
• Inventory Management & Stock Optimisation
• Advanced Excel
• Business Intelligence Tools (Power BI, Tableau)
• AI-driven trend forecasting

Leadership Skills

• Team leadership and development
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Strategic thinking
• Change management

Domain Knowledge

• Stationery, lifestyle, and FMCG categories
• Retail merchandising best practices
• Sustainable and ethical sourcing
• Brand building and customer experience

Education

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Retail Management, Buying, Merchandising, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this role
• Postgraduate qualifications may be advantageous but are not essential
• Professional certifications in retail buying, merchandising, or category management may also be beneficial where relevant

Experience

• Extensive experience in retail buying, product development, or category management with leadership responsibility
• Experience in stationery, lifestyle, FMCG, or similar categories with proven ability to drive growth and margin improvement
• Exposure to retail transformation, brand building, or multi-channel retail environments

Relevant Operational Exposure

• Developing and executing category strategies that drive sales and margin growth
• Negotiating with suppliers to secure competitive pricing, favourable trading terms, and marketing support
• Using BI tools and AI-driven trend forecasting to inform buying decisions
• Collaborating with planning teams to optimize stock levels, reduce aged inventory, and improve stock turn
• Partnering with marketing and merchandising teams to create campaigns and in-store experiences
• Managing product ranges in fast-paced retail environments

ATTRIBUTES:

• Commercial acumen
• Innovation and creativity
• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Communication and influencing
• Relationship management