Merchandise Planner

Merchandise Planner

 Division:  Retail & Wholesale

 

Reports To:    Director – Planning & Allocations

 

Position Summary:  The Merchandise Planner will be involved in a broad area of planning and allocations functions.  In addition, they are responsible for providing inventory-related analytics to support both the Retail & Wholesale teams. The Merchandise Planner is responsible for Allocation activities, including execution of the daily flow of inventory from the distribution center to the shops.   The Merchandise Planner generates selected orders & transfers, follows up with Logistics to resolve distribution issues, and communicates relevant results to Management and Store Operations as needed.  The Merchandise Planner is also responsible for creating seasonal forecasts at the store / category level which are used to generate purchase orders.  



Essential Functions:  The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

 Report Writing & Analysis – Creates, enhances, and runs all merchandise analysis for Retail and Wholesale users. Maintains system criteria in order to refresh and update reports.  Helps forecast changes in overall and category inventory and sales penetration. Executes season/promotional entrance and exit strategies including merchandise transitions, aged inventory reporting, and mark down analysis. Creates ad hoc reporting as requested.

 Inventory Allocation – Execute daily replenishment of merchandise from the warehouse to the Shops. Oversees and participates in all steps of the Auto Replenishment process.  Follows up with Logistics regarding individual store shipments and communicates issue resolution, as needed.  Creates and coordinates orders for New Store Openings. Creates manual  orders to drive sales of best sellers.  Responds appropriately to store merchandise requests.  Initiates store to store transfers as appropriate.  Helps maintain allocation systems and tools.

 Seasonal Financial Plans – Create seasonal business plans at the store / category level.

 Training and Self Development – Identifies personal skill and development needs; takes advantage of training opportunities to improve personal use of new tools and systems. Assists in creating training documentation and assisting the users in adopting new reports.

 

Qualifications    

 

Education:

  • University or College Degree or commensurate retail experience

 

Previous Experience: 

• Minimum 3 years experience in planning with emphasis on creating analytical reporting and performing business analysis. Retail industry experience preferred in allocation & inventory management.

Pre-requisite Skills: 

• Strong quantitative skills; can gather and manipulate data from a broad range of sources to analyze inventory performance, and improve decision making. Prior experience in AS400 & Business Objects  a plus.  Strong computer and systems skills, including ability to learn company database and multiple allocation applications are a requirement. Must have advanced capabilities in Excel, Access, and Data Warehouse report writing.

• Knowledgeable of business and financial concepts; understands key retail performance metrics, and can connect results to and personal work tasks

• Communication skills; capable of clearly presenting analysis and rationale to a broad range of other team members. Ability to clearly and professionally communicate with the shops in a customer friendly manner. Must be able to adapt communication style to their audience.

• Solid interpersonal skills, including ability to be a team player; acts in an appropriate and professional manner

• Organizational skills; can manage multiple tasks to meet objectives and critical deadlines; able to execute to plan

 

Requirements: Domestic and/or international travel. Flexibility in schedule to cover business needs.