Ralph Lauren - Merchandising Placement

The Appointment Aug 22nd 08 Polo Ralph Lauren launches m-commerce site Iconic fashion brand Polo Ralph Lauren has become the first in the luxury sector to launch a mobile commerce site. Initially only open to US customers, m.ralphlauren.com is offering the brand’s US Open collection and its RL Classics to begin with but further lines are expected to be added in due course. The move was described as the “natural next step” for Polo Ralph Lauren to engage with its customers.

Position Overview

A one-year placement based in Watford working within the Business Planning team who are integral to deliver availability of product, predictability of sales forecast and profitability for the business. The successful candidate should be available for a full year from 19th August 2024 – 31st August 2025.

For this placement you should be on your year in industry at any University in the UK. 

You must have the right to work in the UK and would need to provide it at the Assessment Day if successful in securing an interview. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

Operations/Financial

• Attends and prepares for weekly trade meetings and represent your department when required.
• Support all relevant stakeholders collate information, data entry, report preparation and analysis.
• Update reports on a weekly, monthly, and ad hoc basis
• Highlight risks and opportunities to relevant stakeholders.
• Manage and execute Allocation guidance in line with current and future sales plans.
• Work closely with stores to understand capacities, constraints, activities that impact trading plan/space.

Commercial Awareness

• Participate in regular store visits, collating store reports prior and assisting in creating follow up presentations.
• To understand our competitors and their trading stance feedback any relevant points.

Training and development

• To adopt a positive and proactive approach to training and development.
• Proactively promotes improvements to working practices and systems.
• Participates in company initiatives as appropriate.

Communications & Partnerships

• Creates and maintains strong working relationship within cross-functional teams: Buying, Assortment Planning, Retail Planning, RLE and stores teams.
• Liaises with all relevant stakeholders to review and assist in the formation of the seasonal lessons learnt. Using analysis and historical data to ensure commercial decisions are made.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Commercial and Analytical.
• Attention to detail.
• Able to work on own initiative and be pro-active.
• Able to demonstrates logical analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Able to organize, prioritise tasks and manages time well to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrates good listening, written and oral communication skills, effectively and clearly communicates.
• Able to build and maintain productive relationships within team environment.
• Strong Microsoft application skills, particularly Excel.
• Show ability or aptitude in retail math, able to learn technical applications quickly.
• A flexible and pro-active approach to business and systems management
• Able to demonstrate resilience and remain positive during challenging period.