Title - Head of Merchandising
Location - Cheltenham studio
At &SONS, we build clothing with purpose, garments rooted in craft, storytelling and timeless design. As we grow, we’re looking for a Head of Merchandising who can see the bigger picture: someone who understands how product, data and intuition come together to create a collection with clarity, balance and commercial strength.
This role sits at the heart of our long-term planning. You’ll shape the merchandising strategy, help guide the product direction alongside our Creative and Product teams, and ensure we maintain a thoughtful, sustainable approach to growth. While the merchandising team manages day to day execution, you set direction and decisions. You use trading data to shape the range, run the planning rhythm, and keep the business aligned on what we buy, when we buy it, and why.
What You’ll Lead
Strategic Merchandising Planning
* Build a long-term merchandising strategy across all categories.
* Partner with Product, Operations, Finance and Marketing to set direction and ensure commercial and brand goals align.
* Help guide the shape, pace and balance of collections based on data, ensuring every range feels intentional and true to &SONS.
* Forecast growth opportunities, risks and demand patterns across regions and channels.
* Lead the Open-to-Buy process and work alongside finance and sales for financial planning with clarity and confidence.
* Use trading data and customer insight to reduce risk, simplify decisions, and sharpen the range.
* Use AI and automation to streamline reporting, improve forecasting inputs, and surface trading insights faster, so decisions happen earlier and markdown risk is reduced.
* Own the weekly trade pack and trade meeting. Focus on top sellers, bottom sellers, availability risk, and a written actions list.
Range Architecture & Product Direction
* Create the framework to suggest future collections: breadth, depth, hero pieces, new categories.
* Ensure the range plan supports brand storytelling and sustainability commitments.
* Identify commercial opportunities without compromising the brand’s identity.
Cross-Functional Leadership
* Share sales data at the table during product development.
* Work closely with Operations & ESG to ensure product decisions reflect responsible sourcing and long-term sustainability.
* Partner with Marketing to ensure campaigns are aligned with stock availability and commercial priorities.
* Provide clear leadership to the merchandising team, enabling them to succeed in day-to-day execution.
Operating Rhythm
Weekly:
* DTC trade meeting covering top sellers, bottom sellers, stock risks, and upcoming launches, with a written actions list.
* Trade pack issued with commentary and decisions required.
* WSSI review covering availability, intake, weeks of cover, and aged stock risk.
Monthly:
* Open to Buy sign off with Finance, including re-forecast and intake changes.
Seasonal:
* Range architecture sign off with option count, depth strategy, and hero focus.
* Launch calendar locked with Marketing against availability and intake dates.
Merchandising Team (Day-to-Day)
You are accountable for the decisions. The team executes the weekly workflow. You set the direction, priorities, and trade actions.
* Line card management and weekly trading administration
* Stock flow, replenishment and intake tracking
* Detailed reporting and performance analysis
* Size curve analysis and replenishment logic
* Markdown planning within agreed guidelines
* Daily communication with suppliers and internal teams
Your responsibility is to set direction, challenge thinking, and ensure strong commercial decision-making.
Key outputs you own:
* Annual and seasonal range plan by category, with option count and depth strategy.
* Forecast and WSSI with clear actions: chase, cut, reflow, pause, exit.
* Open to Buy plan and intake phasing through the year.
* Markdown guardrails and margin protection plan.
* Trading insights translated into decisions, not just commentary.
What You Bring
* Experience leading merchandising strategy for a growing clothing brand.
* A strong commercial instinct with a deep understanding of the product lifecycle.
* A balance of creativity and data-driven thinking.
* The ability to lead and elevate the merchandising function.
* Confident communication and collaboration across departments.
* A calm, structured approach and ability to navigate complexity.
* A genuine respect for craft, quality and the &SONS way of doing things.
How Success Will Look
* A clear merchandising roadmap that supports brand growth.
* Improved availability on winners and faster action on underperformers.
* Higher full price mix and improved gross margin.
* Cleaner stock position with fewer aged units.
* A consistent weekly trade rhythm that results in decisions and follow-through.
* Strong forecasting accuracy and improved margin performance.
* A merchandising team operating confidently and efficiently without heavy oversight.
* Cross-team flow: product, finance, ops, creative, retail and marketing aligned.
Why Join &SONS?
At &SONS, you'll be part of a passionate team dedicated to redefining menswear. We offer a dynamic work environment, opportunities for growth, and the chance to make a significant impact in a fast-paced, innovative company. If you're ready to take on the challenge and help shape the future of &SONS, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits & Salary:
Salary: Up to £70,000 per annum (full-time) or up to £35,000 per annum (part-time), depending on hours and experience. We welcome applications from both full-time and part-time candidates.
Location: Based in our Cheltenham studio
Holiday: 30 days holiday, including bank holidays (22 days + 8 bank holidays) per annum pro rata
Benefits:
* Company pension scheme
* Health cash back scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* 50% Staff discounts
&SONS is for everyone. We believe that an equitable and inclusive work environment and a diverse, empowered team are key to achieving our mission.
We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation or any other legally protected status. We commit to a focused and sustained action to dismantle racist systems, policies, practices, and ideologies within ourselves and our networks. We have zero tolerance for intolerance. We employ the right person for the job, if you are qualified for the position and reading this – we welcome you!
If the position sounds of interest to you, please get in touch by email attaching your CV or list of relevant knowledge and experience to kelly@andsons.co.uk
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