Merchandise Planner/Retail Planner

Merchandise Planner/Retail Planner

Objective :

The job holder will be responsible for merchandise planning process to achieve department /category sales, margin, stockholding and flow objectives under the guidance of Head Merchandise Planning

Merchandise Financial, Strategic and Assortment Planning

- Maximise Sales and profitability for the department/category

- Support in determining high-level financial goals including pre-season financial plans, in-season projections, open-to-buy management and new store budgets

- Prepare and maintain department/category merchandise MIS analytics based on actual sales, sales forecasts, company order parameters, inventory checks, forth coming events, replenishment needs etc

- Assist in the creation of merchandise plans for the category based on insights gained from merchandise analytics, customer preference, historical trends and future outlook projected by the buyer

- Assist in discussing, deciding and freezing the department/category merchandise strategic plans around the following factors

Financials :

- Sales, Stock, OTB, Margins, Forward Cover etc

Store :

- Subgroub level Sales, Order Quantity, Allocation, Replenishment etc

Assortment :

- Style, Price, Brand, Supplier etc

- Communicate the merchandise strategic plan to buying team for necessary execution

- Ensure effective in season management across territories (stock balancing, markdown management, stock analysis, stock vs sales performance)

- Help review the merchandise plans on a periodic basis to ensure profit is maximized and maintained to reach target levels

- Ensure that the standards of Merchandise procedures and Methodologies are maintained and kept Uniform

Inventory Stock Optimization :

- Ensure optimum category inventory levels are maintained at Concept/Territory keeping in mind store requirements as well as working capital constraints

- Ensure that no instances of category stock outs occur on account of any discrepancy on part of merchandise planning

- Ensure excess category inventory is not maintained at the warehouses or the stores and there is proper adherence to the concept/territory ageing policy

Category Promotions :

- Provide inputs on the expected margins, possible price points and other parameters for promotions within the product category

- Help analyse the effectiveness of the promotions in achieving the targeted levels of sales and margins

- Help analyse the existing stock levels and liaise with the Buying/VM/Marketing team for timely roll out of promotional campaigns to maintain the territory / warehouse inventory holding norms as well to achieve targeted sales

In season Management :

- Ensure performance is monitored against plan for the assigned category/department, regularly supported by exception reporting

- Ensure effective in season management of the assigned category/department through regular analysis and action planning across concept and territory, based on the performance around the following anchors

- Sales vs. Stock

- Inflows/OTB

- Stock analysis

- Stock balancing

- Margin analysis

Additional Responsibilities :

- Be seen as a go to person on the department and an inspiration for others.

- Support and coach new team members and provide on the Job training

- Deputise for the Merchandise Planning Manager as required

- Work closely with buyers for department ensure that they feel supported

- Take an active role outside of the department championing merchandising projects

- To develop their career and understanding the benefit of moving departments and the need for change