Merchandise Planner - Westville at Boxer Superstores

Minimum Requirements: 

• Diploma/Degree in commerce or supply chain would be highly beneficial/advantageous.
• Strong proficiency in Excel.
• Experience with a large store base (2-3 years of work experience).

Skills required for the role:

• Strong analytical and financial skills
• High attention to detail
• Inventory management
• Sales planning
• Forecasting
• Expert level skills in retail merchandising tools and Microsoft tools/applications such as Excel and Outlook
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to work with all levels within an organization
• Replenishment system
• Able to interpret numerical data, form conclusions and make quick decisions based on this
• Able to multi-task and prioritize time/workload effectively
• Highly driven, motivated and confident with a diverse range of people
• Imaginative and creative in identifying workable solutions
• Taking responsibility for development and have a hunger for autonomy and accountability
• Passionate about retail

Duties and Responsibilities    

Duties

• Product Planning:
• Develop and maintain product sales and inventory plans.
• Manage and utilize the inventory procurement plan effectively.
• Recommend assortment changes, markdowns, markups, and promotions based on sales trends.
• Track weekly sales performance and adjust sales, purchases, and markdowns accordingly.
• Review product plans with Buyers and suppliers to ensure product availability.
• Collaborate with Buyers to develop consensus on forecast sales.
• Provide promotional forecasts to Buyers for ROI and marketing submissions.

Replenishment / Allocation:

• Order and manage inventory investments according to OTB to ensure timely product arrival.
• Analyze allocation methods based on range profile, store profile, and size.
• Execute supplier orders to ensure proper product flow within Open To Buy, Weeks Of Supply, and in-stock goals.
• Work directly with suppliers, sharing orders and gathering data on item availability.
• Maintain the supplier/category ordering calendar for optimal inbound goods flow.
• Analyze store and DC inventory to ensure appropriate replenishment and execute changes manually or using allocation tools.
• Collaborate with stores on specific product requests and address supply chain and system issues.
• Collaborate with the Logistics Team to prioritize hot/needed products.
• Ensure opening store orders and allocations align with bin plan and all stocks are delivered according to project plan dates.

Range Planning:

• Collaborate with Buyers on biannual range reviews.
• Understand store profiles for each category and ensure alignment with range plans.
• Work with Buyers to ensure coordination between range plans and replenishment plans.
• Suggest appropriate store groupings and allocations in collaboration with Visual Merchandising and store planning.
• Ensure sufficient inventory to validate planograms and address rate of sale impact on planograms.

Financial Analysis, Pricing / OTB Planning:

• Maintain stock planning based on inventory procurement plans.
• Develop financial plans with Buyers to achieve annual sales and net margin goals.
• Analyze sales data for key performance drivers and opportunities for expansion.
• Monitor price strategies and collaborate with Buyers on any changes.
• Manage aged-stock and poor sellers in line with category stock turn expectations and recommend exit strategies.

SKU/Product/System Management:

• Evaluate SKU count to ensure dominance of best-selling products and range rationalization.
• Manage range through top seller, slow seller, and aged stock inventory management.
• Execute system maintenance updates, including de-listings, price changes, product loading, promotions, and more.

Marketing/ Advertising & Promotions:

• Collaborate with Buyers and Marketing team to execute the product promotional calendar.
• Ensure promotion products are in-store two weeks before the commencement date.
• Track sales on advertised material and report results to respective teams.

Leadership/Talent Enhancement & Training:

• Continuously update knowledge and skills in merchandising competencies.
• Develop and train relevant team members.
• Provide feedback, coaching, and guidance to enhance skill development.

Cross Functional Partnership:

• Communicate across company departments/cross-functional teams.
• Manage tasks and responsibilities within cross-functional teams to improve business processes and maintain ethical dealings with others in various departments (Shipping, Finance, Marketing, Warehouse, Ops, HR, Store Design, Property, etc.).