Junior Planner / Allocator at Ares Holdings

Job Summary 
Planning Strategy:

• Understand the business strategy and assist in developing product strategies by channel, as well as range building in line with the business vision.
• Develop an integrated planning process that deals with customer demand, upselling opportunities in high demand end uses, EOL & stock to management in accordance with budgeted guidance (OTB), to consume against future seasons.
• Evaluate customer sell through data for forecasting purposes and to support recommendations for range decisions.

Retail Store Allocation:

• Monitor sell-through by store and webstore
• Stock level management as per capacity - Re-allocates stock through inter-branch transfers to ensure the right stock is in the right store (stores never over or under stocked)
• Rotating inventory as per the seasonal plan set out by the Retail Planner. Supply stores with a detailed sku list of stock to be returned/rotated during season
• Track stock in transit to ensure delivery to stores take place on time.
• Own and manage store planograms implemented by Visual Merchandiser
• Retail team management on store level to ensure inventory plan is executed as per the seasonal plan from Retail Planner.
• Accountable to have the right stock at the right time and the right store

Marketing

• Align with marketing to ensure styles are in store at the right time to support windows

Set up and implement new retail store

• Handle new store openings as per the project management timeline

Reports

• Weekly retail reports (per store & consolidated): Top 10 models, bottom 10 models, percentage contribution to total units, NPI % contribution, weekly revenue per store vs. same week period of previous year vs. target, ASP's, etc.Report to Ops Managers, Head Office and Agents.

General

• Be dedicated to meet all targets and deadlines

Necessary competencies for success

• Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; acts with customers in mind
• Action Oriented: Enjoys working hard, is action oriented and full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging
• Presentation Skills: Is effective in a variety of formal presentation settings: one-on-one, small and large groups, with peers, direct reports and bosses
• Quick Learner: Learns quickly when facing problems; a relentless and versatile learner; open to change; analyses both successes and failure for clues to improvement
• Informing: Provides the information people need to know to do their jobs and to feel good about being a member of the team, unit and/or organization
• Decision Quality: Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment
• Process Management: Good at figuring out the processes necessary to get things done; can simplify complex processes
• Standing Alone: Will stand up and be counted; doesn’t shirk personal responsibility; can be counted on when times are rough
• Directing Others: Is good at establishing clear directions; sets stretching objectives; is a clear communicator
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture

Qualifications and Skills:

• Grade 12 or equivalent
• Degree in Retail, Business or any other related field
• 3+ years’ experience in merchandise planning and allocating in a retail environment
• Strategic agility and able to articulate a vision and purpose.
• Advanced Excel skills