Strong team but management focused on cost cutting - Merchandiser Bonmarché Employee Review

This brand has a relaxed office environment, an hour early finish on Fridays, and on-site parking.

The brand operates with small buying teams, usually consisting of one buyer, one assistant buyer, and shared admin support across four teams, leaving little opportunity for progression. Buyers are under pressure to build ranges without an in-house design team, which often limits the guidance and development they can offer their assistants. Although a junior buyer role was introduced in 2025, they weren’t privy to buyers’ meetings that informed the direction of the brand or invited on supplier/ shopping trips. The assistant buyers were not encouraged to apply for the junior role and were later told they lacked the necessary experience, despite working directly under the buyer’s management. This feels especially disheartening after working with the brand for a good chunk of your early career where you constantly sought learning and progression. As a result, it was difficult to feel that the brand genuinely supported internal career progression.

Good starting point to get your foot in the door, then go else where.

Company has a high staff turnover at the head office.