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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Merchandise Planner

💰 $75,000 - $115,000

RetailPlanningMerchandisingSupply Chain

🎯 Role Definition

A Merchandise Planner is the strategic financial architect behind a product assortment. This role serves as the crucial link between merchandising, finance, and the supply chain, blending analytical prowess with a deep understanding of market trends. The planner's primary objective is to maximize profitability by ensuring the right products are in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity. They achieve this through meticulous financial planning, inventory management, and data-driven forecasting. By analyzing past performance and predicting future demand, the Merchandise Planner builds the financial framework that empowers Buyers to create compelling, profitable assortments that resonate with customers and drive business growth.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Allocation Analyst / Allocator
  • Assistant Buyer
  • Assistant Merchandise Planner / Planning Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Merchandise Planner
  • Merchandise Planning Manager
  • Director of Planning & Allocation

Lateral Moves:

  • Buyer / Category Manager
  • Demand Planner
  • Business Analyst / Retail Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, manage, and meticulously re-forecast the Open-to-Buy (OTB) for assigned merchandise categories, ensuring inventory levels align with financial targets and sales forecasts.
  • Create detailed, item-level sales and inventory plans on a weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual basis, considering historical performance, market trends, and promotional activities.
  • Strategically manage inventory flow and stock levels across all channels (e.g., e-commerce, brick-and-mortar stores) to optimize stock turn and minimize out-of-stocks and overstocks.
  • Analyze historical data and current market trends to identify risks and opportunities within the assortment, providing actionable recommendations to the cross-functional team.
  • Formulate and execute markdown and promotional strategies in partnership with the Buying team to drive sales, manage aging inventory, and optimize gross margin.
  • Conduct comprehensive SKU productivity analysis to inform assortment decisions, including SKU rationalization, depth of buys, and introduction of new products.
  • Partner closely with the Buying team during assortment planning to build a financially viable collection that meets both style and commercial objectives.
  • Own and manage the Weekly Sales, Stock, and Intake (WSSI) tool, reporting on business performance and re-forecasting key metrics to guide in-season decision-making.
  • Lead monthly and quarterly planning meetings, presenting financial performance, forecasts, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership and cross-functional partners.
  • Forecast demand for core, seasonal, and fashion items to ensure optimal inventory investment and support high levels of in-stock availability.
  • Develop pre-season financial plans and assortment frameworks that quantify opportunities and risks, providing a clear roadmap for the Buying team.
  • Manage the financial aspects of purchase order placement, ensuring buys are within the approved budget and OTB parameters.
  • Reconcile top-down financial goals with bottom-up, class-level plans to ensure a cohesive and achievable merchandise strategy.
  • Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales, gross margin, inventory turn, sell-through percentage, and weeks of supply.
  • Collaborate with the Allocation team to develop and refine allocation strategies that support store-level inventory needs and regional nuances.

Secondary Functions

  • Partner with the marketing and e-commerce teams to align promotional calendars and product features with inventory availability and financial goals.
  • Generate and analyze ad-hoc reports to address immediate business questions and support strategic projects for leadership.
  • Participate in the continuous improvement of planning processes, systems, and tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
  • Act as a mentor or coach for junior members of the planning team, such as Assistant Planners or Allocators.
  • Collaborate with the supply chain and logistics teams to understand lead times and inbound inventory flow, incorporating this information into planning forecasts.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Microsoft Excel: Mastery of complex formulas, pivot tables, v-lookups, macros, and data modeling is essential for daily analysis and reporting.
  • Retail Math Acumen: Deep understanding of retail financial metrics including OTB, WSSI, gross margin, GMROI, sell-through, turn, and weeks of supply.
  • Merchandise Planning Systems: Proficiency with industry-standard planning software (e.g., JDA, Oracle Retail, Blue Yonder, Anaplan, Logility).
  • Data Analysis & Visualization: Ability to synthesize large, complex datasets into clear, actionable insights and present findings effectively.
  • Forecasting Methodologies: Experience in applying various statistical and qualitative techniques to predict sales and demand.
  • Inventory Management Principles: Strong knowledge of inventory control techniques, allocation strategies, and supply chain concepts.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Strategic Mindset: The ability to see beyond the numbers to identify trends, connect disparate data points, and build a long-term strategic vision.
  • Collaboration & Influence: Proven ability to build strong partnerships with cross-functional teams (especially Buyers) and influence decision-making without direct authority.
  • Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex financial information to a variety of audiences.
  • Problem-Solving & Agility: Adept at identifying root causes of business issues and quickly adapting plans in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment.
  • Financial Acumen: A strong commercial sense and the ability to link inventory decisions directly to financial outcomes like profit and cash flow.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and highly organized, capable of managing complex spreadsheets and data with a high degree of accuracy.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Finance / Economics
  • Retail Management
  • Supply Chain Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3-7 years of direct experience in merchandise planning, demand planning, or a highly analytical role within a retail or e-commerce environment.

Preferred:

  • Experience in the specific product category (e.g., apparel, home goods, electronics).
  • A proven track record of successfully managing a multi-million dollar business and driving profitable growth.
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