Merchandise Planner at Talented Recruitment Specialists

Job Summary

To work with two well-known International fashion brands and assist the business in expanding channels and improving profitability.mThe role will encompass both store and assortment planning for the retail channel; as well as working with the Brand / Sales Managers to support the wholesale business with demand planning. There is a strong focus on improving key performance metrics over time, where the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that these objectives are met.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Preparation of seasonal sales and stock plans, encompassing unit projections, price inflation targeting, and product mix optimization.
• Preparation of seasonal analysis of each Brand in order to fully understand the performance down to the lowest SKU Level; and to use such analysis for Critical Forward Planning for each Brand.
• Assisting with the compilation of annual sales budgets, with ongoing reforecasts at a store, category and product level to ensure achievability and to rebalance OTB commitments.
• Management of the forward order pipeline with international vendors by ensuring OTB commitments are aligned to the budgeted sales plans and Principal Commercial Contracts.
• Management of the critical path of each brand respectively, to optimise the relevant timelines and ensure key interventions are conducted on time.
• Continual assessment of Store performance and implementation of stock management techniques to keep the business aligned to key indicators; including but not limited to effective Replenishment to maximise Sales Performance and Market Share.
• Providing support to the Brand Manager and Head of Planning with the setting and maintenance of prices and margins across the range.
• Compiling regular management and operational reporting to bring visibility to business operations.
• Working closely with the Brand & Purchasing and Customer Services Teams to formulate commercially practical ranges whilst providing and presenting data that supports informed decision making.
• Working with and providing direction and/or guidance to the allocations team to replenish stock to stores to eliminate lost sales opportunities.
• Working jointly with Store Operations and driving development to ensure grading/option plan is in line with space management (pre-season).
• Ensuring integration of ratio management in all merchandising activities.
• Ensuring best practise is actioned for in-depth analysis to support buying commitment decisions for each Brand as appropriate.
• Reviewing and actioning fact-based category input and feedback for internal/external stakeholders.
• Guiding the Operational teams for best practice end-to-end in season management including management of best sellers and worst sellers, in season stock cover management, in season reactivity and sales to space management.
• Providing guidance and strategy for execution of end of season stock management.
• Overseeing the optimal flow of merchandise including fulfilment of product/marketing introduction deadlines/capacity planning.
• Working collaboratively with Marketing and Brand, Visual Merchandising (VM) and Store Operations.
• Supporting the Business and Finance Teams when conducting Business Reviews for each of the Brands as appropriate.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Essential: Relevant tertiary qualification
• Essential: 4+ years merchandise planning experience in a retail environment
• Essential: Intermediate to Advanced MS Excel skills

Core Competencies

• Persuading and Influencing
• Analysing
• Deciding and initiating action
• Planning and Organising
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking
• Presenting and Communicating Information

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Negotiation skills
• Communication skills
• Commercial thinking
• Presentation skills
• Knowledge of IT systems and data analytics
• Client account management
• Knowledge of market trends and the retail landscape
• Self-starter with an ability to manage own tasks and responsibilities