Merchandise Planner

Knitwell Group • New Albany, OH

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

About us Our founder, Lena Bryant didn't set out to change fashion forever, but that's exactly what she did. 120 years later, Lane Bryant remains the iconic plus-size brand. Empowering women is kind of our thing. Our inclusive community of customers and associates champions the acceptance of all sizes, shapes, and people. If you believe in the power of clothes to create confidence and empower self-expression, you'll be at home here. About the role Accountable for the pro-active management running of the business, by channel, pre-season and in-season. Ensuring effective inventory management, in total and across channels, to maximize sales and margin. The impact you can have Development of pre-season/in-season plans: Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level that will achieve financial targets Understanding of marketing calendar and impact to financial architecture Assessment of past seasons and results providing insight to future plan development and recommendations in concert with merchandising partners Identifies and reacts to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and updates plans accordingly Performs analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights Pro-active management of inventory, on order positions and margin results: Manage and evaluate inventory positions, to ensure inventory levels optimize sales and margin and improve inventory productivity, including markdown management. Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies Accountable for managing day-to-day running of the business and meeting deadlines: Provides cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and has the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions Anticipates potential obstacles and works with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans Presents financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business Synthesizes large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making. Continually examines product successes and failures to extract key lessons

Requirements

• Minimum of 2-4 years in retail as a merchandise planner, allocation, financial analyst, or buyer experience a plus in addition to merchandise planning.
• Customer-centric focus with understanding of customer needs and ability to understand market trends
• Ability to build strong relationships with a diverse group of cross functional partners, and cascade the proper level of information to support decision making.
• Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or related field
• Good systems skills with experience in managing and reporting data in such environments as Excel, Arthur Planning, Data Warehouse, etc.
• Key skills: Strong analytical ability, financial acumen, business influence and communication, change agility

Responsibilities

• Development of pre-season/in-season plans: Translation of merchant assortment strategies into plans at a subclass/week level that will achieve financial targets
• Understanding of marketing calendar and impact to financial architecture
• Assessment of past seasons and results providing insight to future plan development and recommendations in concert with merchandising partners
• Identifies and reacts to opportunities to increase sales, improve margin, optimize inventories, and decrease markdowns and updates plans accordingly
• Performs analytics to uncover opportunities and deliver insights
• Manage and evaluate inventory positions, to ensure inventory levels optimize sales and margin and improve inventory productivity, including markdown management.
• Partner with allocation on store and channel plans and allocation strategies
• Provides cross-functional partners with scenarios that quantify upside opportunities and risks and has the ability to make compelling and persuasive cases for proposals that are grounded in sound facts or assumptions
• Anticipates potential obstacles and works with cross-functional partners to establish contingency plans
• Presents financial information in a concise, clear and confident manner in support of the needs of the business
• Synthesizes large, complex data sets into major points and issues that readily facilitate decision-making.
• Continually examines product successes and failures to extract key lessons

Benefits

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus opportunities for career mobility within our family of brands.
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities.
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Time off – paid time off & holidays.

What This Job Offers

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