Fresh Vacancies at Toys R Us and Babies R Us South Africa

Purpose

The Merchandise/Retail Planner develops, maintains, analyzes and executes category level item plans for one or more departments. The Planner is also responsible for store allocations and works directly with Buyer and Merchandise & Planning Manager to achieve strategic goals. The position works directly with suppliers to exchange orders, sales data and item availability information. Manage, train and monitor the Orders Clerks.

Chain Item Planning

• Develop and maintain item sales and inventory plans
• Overall management and utilization of inventory procurement plan
• Develop item unit plan using the replenishment system software
• Develop inventory plan by week by chain.
• Recommend changes to assortment, markdowns, markups, and to promote items based on current rate of sales and go forward plans
• Track weekly sales performance and make adjustments to sales, forecast receipts and markdowns as needed
• Review item plans (forecasted sales and inventory) with Buyers and suppliers to ensure product availability
• Communicate inventory concerns for promotional and inline sales through the proper communication vehicles.
• Work with Buyers to develop consensus on forecast sales
• Provide Buyers with promotional forecast for input into ROI and marketing submissions

Replenishment / Allocation

• Order and manage inventory investments according to OTB and to ensure the right product arrives in the right location in the right quantity at the right time
• Analyze and determine allocation methods for items (Supplier to DC or Direct to Store), based on range profile, store profile and ranking
• Analyze, determine and execute initial orders for new items to include quantity and timing
• Utilizing the ordering, replenishment and inventory procurement plans, review, maintain and execute vendor orders to ensure proper flow of product from supplier to all stores/DC, within given Open To Buy, Weeks Of Supply, and in stock goals\
• Works directly with suppliers sharing orders, information on sales plans, performance metrics, and gathering data on item availability\
• Maintain the supplier/category ordering calendar to optimize inbound flow of goods.
• Analyze store and DC inventory and in-stocks to ensure appropriate store replenishment; execute changes either manually or utilizing allocation tools
• Collaborate with stores and marketing team to develop specific allocation segmentations, support critical roto and Key Item processes, and store specific merchandise requests
• Collaborates with Sales and Operation Team to address supply chain and system issues
• Collaborates with Logistics Team to ensure proper prioritization of hot/ needed product.
• Manage exception reporting to ensure proper allocation down to store level                           

Assortment Planning

• Maintain and partner with Buyers in understanding of store profiles for each category
• Work directly with Buyers to ensure that assortment plans and item eligibility directly coincide with replenishment plans
• Working with the same team and store planning, suggest appropriate store groupings and bin allocation.
• Validate presentation minimums to ensure enough inventory is available to support periodic events like end caps and feature space

Financial Analysis, Pricing / OTB Planning

• Responsible for maintaining financials including Open-to-Buy planning based on the inventory procurement plans.
• Engage with Buyers to manage current and future OTB status, identify issues and opportunities and develop strategies to optimize OTB planning
• Develop financial plans with Buyers to achieve the department’s annual sales and net margin goals
• Analyze sales data to identify key performance drives of sales performance and opportunities for expansion
• Analyse margin data to ensure budget goals are met
• Prepare and develop, plan and implement pricing strategies; implement price reductions

Key Requirements

• Relevant 3-year Degree/Diploma
• 2 to 3 Years of Product Planning Experience in a retail environment
• High level of Excel ability essential
• Must understand forecasting aspect of planning and interaction of key KPI’s
• Sound numerical, analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills
• Strong data handling capabilities
• Strong merchant, trader and commercial mentality
• Team Collaborator who is strategic and forward thinking
• Strong planning, organizing, administrating and coordinating skills
• Ability to work independently, self-lead and use initiative
• Methodical, detail-orientated and high level of accuracy
• Punctual, Deadline driven and outcomes focused
• Strong analytical and financial skills
• High attention to detail
• Inventory management
• Sales planning
• Forecasting
• Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to work with all levels within an organisation
• Replenishment system
• Able to interpret numerical data, form conclusions and make quick decisions based on this
• Able to multi-task and prioritise time/workload effectively
• Highly driven, motivated and confident
• Imaginative and creative in identifying workable solutions
• Taking responsibility for development and have a hunger for autonomy and accountability
• Passionate about retail with a desire to progress through to Buyer and beyond

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Job purpose:

Maximizing sales by effectively delivering AWESOME customer service and providing customers with a WOW experience

Key Skills needed:

• Sales driven
• Fantastic customer service skills
• Tenacious
• Highly motivated and target driven
• Excellent selling and communication skills
• Merchandising

Key Performance Areas

• Providing AWESOME customer service to give customer a WOW experience
• Attend to unique and individual shopping needs of each customer and always put the Customer first
• Ensuring that customers receive prompt and relevant service on the sales floor and by telephone
• Adhere to all basic customer service standards
• Determining customers' requirements and advising on product range, price and warranties
• Demonstrating, explaining and advising on products to customers
• Selling goods and most importantly add on sales and services
• Ensuring that goods are correctly priced and displayed
• Ensure promotions are executed timeously and execution is planned in advance
• Adherence to all merchandising/layouts and housekeeping standards and schedules
• Preparation, implementation and maintenance of all advertised sales promotions timeously
• Reporting on fast and slow sellers to the Store Manager
• Participating in stock takes and stock counts
• Minimize stock loss
• Minimize expenses in area of responsibility
• Maximize sales in all areas
• Protect Company’s assets in area of responsibility

Entry Requirement

• Matric Certificate
• 6 (six) months retail experience
• Must have own or reliable transport to be able to work shifts

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Job purpose:

Responsible for all administrative functions in a store in accordance with the Company’s standards and procedures. 

Key Skills needed:

• Strong Admin and reporting acumen
• Well organised
• Numeracy
• Ability to work under pressure and handle challenging situations
• Time Management
• Problem solving
• Appropriate Computer skills

Key Performance Areas

• Manage, control and administer all timeously in the store related to daily banking, price changes, staff scheduling and employment contracts, stock counts, stationery and all other general administration
• Daily cash ups and balancing by receiving incoming cash, checking it against sales slips and other documents, and preparing it for deposit at bank
• Counting and recording money received and/or paid out and balancing against cash register sales records
• Ensure accurate and timeous daily banking and reconciliations
• Daily reporting all discrepancies, shortages and overs, price overrides refunds and exchanges to Store Manager for authorisation
• Manage and control all functions and procedures related to receipt and dispatch of goods in accordance with standard operating procedures
• Daily scanning and emailing to head office all documentation relating to the receipt and dispatch of stock
• Daily reporting of all receipt and despatch documentation to the Store Manager for authorisation
• Adherences to daily housekeeping in office area
• Manage and control all weekly stock counts in accordance with count schedule
• Plan and prepare and administer all stock take counts
• Manage and control all stock take counts
• Planning and preparing work schedules for Store Managers authorisation
• Daily updating price changes electronically and manually
• Maintenance and administrations of all stock related matters (including but not limited to reports in respect to: no sales, top sellers and negative stock transactions); 1Ordering, monitoring and controlling Stationery used in the store
• Minimize expenses in area of responsibility
• Protect Company’s assets in area of responsibility

Entry Requirements

• Matric Certificate
• Must have own or reliable transport to work to be able to work shifts
• Minimum of 1 (one) year administration experience within a retail environment