Merchandise Planner at Weylandts Furniture Cape Town (Pty) Ltd

Job purpose:

• This position is responsible for planning and forecasting the merchandise range, specifically focusing on replenishment core product for Homeware within established budgets. 

Main accountabilities include:

Range review

• Preparing, analysing, and making recommendations that are aligned with budget as well as our strategy to meet targets

Buy plan

• Compiling a range of options based on price, volume, market information and product tiering to create a line buying plan in conjunction with the buyer to tie in with targets, on an on-going basis
• Responsible for establishing buy plans for each Homeware category, detailing landing dates in line with yearly budget, lead times and forward cover on repeat lines

Store allocation

• Based on the buy plan and strategy, the planner needs to focus on store allocation aligned to tiering structure

Forecasting

• Managing stocks supply and meeting various operational objectives such as budgeted sales, stock turn, gross profit and ROI targets and taking appropriate action

Promotions

• Forecasting with the buyer as well as placing of promotional orders and track sell through
• Monthly performance review of HW and take corrective action accordingly
• Provide bottom-up budget that enables the business to achieve turnover expectation, as well as overall margins and KPIs that aligns with the top-level budget
• Liaising with department head and then business intelligence to compile and produce reports to ensure visibility of the correct information [i.e. stock, margin, availability]

Qualifications and skills required:

• Relevant certificate, diploma or degree
• Proven working experience as a Merchandise Planner (3-5 years), specifically dealing with replenishment and store allocations

Essential skills, behaviour and knowledge required:

• Good understanding of retail industry with an emphasis on homeware
• Strong affiliation to systems, utilising them to increase productivity in line with the company's merchandise strategy
• Excellent communication & presentation skills
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills;
• Strong analytical skills and ability to review sales reports
• Numeracy skills and proficiency using IT, MS Office (particularly Excel & PowerPoint) & in-house systems;
• Good organisation skills and the ability to multitask;