Merchandise Planner
Job Spec
- To drive sales and profitability (GP) through the category management of sales, stock, OTB and margin.
- Collate / Manipulate data for manual input into planning tool.
- Forecast sales and stock on the planning templates based on current trend, performance and opportunities.
- Ensure that category stock holding is in line with budget / forecast and manage the OTB accordingly.
- Make commercial recommendations based on current trade and propose actions.
- Assortment planning and assist in product ranging.
- Analyse size curves at store level as well as other key user defined attributes.
- Seasonal analysis and post mortem with corresponding strategy and range planning.
- Responsible for developing and translating departmental pre-season merchandise strategies into executable in-season merchandise plans.
- Establish pre-season sales and margin plans, together with the inventory levels required to support them.
- In season, re-project sales and markdowns in consideration with the impact on margin.
- Manage the allocation teams to balance inventory and assortment across the stores to ensure the right stock is in the right store at the right time.
- Provide financial strategies for sales, markdowns, inventory and gross margin, and also responsible for accurate in-season forecasting, driving course corrections and improvements based on variances between actual results and the plan.
- Working closely in a team with buyers and allocators to make sure the range is executed.
- Liaise with buying departments regarding style performance.
- Controlling the budget and managing the supply chain of the different categories / departments.
- Strategically manage stock and produce accurate figures for analysis.
- Grading stores and calculating units buys for the buying team in order to support the strategy.
- Oversee and work with Allocators to correctly distribute stock to stores through allocations, consolidations and stock movements.
- Maintaining store stock levels for core merchandise.
- Other ad hoc reporting.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Advanced knowledge of Excel, retail systems and general computer skills.
- Must be able to run pivot tables and do VLOOKUP functions and create and maintain advanced reports.
- Must understand forecasting aspect of planning and interaction of key KPI's.
- Good articulation with excellent English written & verbal communication skills.
- Good numerical, analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills.
- Strong merchant, trader and commercial mentality.
- Team collaborator who is strategic and forward-thinking.
- Strong planning, organizing, administrating and coordinating skills.
- Ability to work independently, self-lead and use initiative.
- Methodical, detail-oriented and high level of accuracy.
- Punctual, deadline-driven and outcomes-focused.
- Strong data handling capabilities.
- Attention to detail is key.
- Grade 12/Matric.
- Relevant 3-year Degree/Diploma.
- Min 3-5 years relevant Retail Planning experience accountable for own area and managing allocators/order clerks.
- Apparel/Accessories/Footwear experience is preferable.
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