Associate Merchandise Planner

Hot Topic & BoxLunch • Hot Topic HQ - City of Industry, CA

51d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a proactive and analytical Associate Merchandise Planner to play a key role in driving inventory efficiency and sales performance. This role is ideal for someone with foundational experience in planning who is ready to take the next step in their career. You'll work cross-functionally to optimize stock levels, analyze trends, and contribute to business growth. This role operates on a hybrid schedule and will require to work from our HQ located in the City of Industry, CA, three days a week.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience in retail planning or inventory management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.
• Proficiency in Excel and an understanding of data analysis.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Nice To Haves

• VBA and/or AI experience is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor sales and inventory levels to support business goals.
• Analyze product performance and customer demand to optimize assortment.
• Manage and maintain the open-to-buy process, providing recommendations to ensure alignment of sales, margin, and inventory goals.
• Leverage KPIs such as sales, margin, and sell-through to proactively highlight opportunities, mitigate risks, and influence proper inventory levels.
• Work closely with buying and marketing teams when planning promotional strategy.
• Use analytics tools to generate insights and assist with reporting.
• Evaluate competitive retail trends and translate insights into actionable recommendations for assortment and pricing strategies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level