Merchandise Planner

Michaels•Irving, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Merchandise Planner is a key business partner with the Buyer and Sr. Buyer to ensure the achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin, and inventory. This role involves providing analysis and recommendations to optimize sales, margin, and inventory, as well as in-season management and execution of assortment strategies.

Requirements

BS or equivalent in Business, retail or related field.
Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel.
2-5 years in retail.
Numerical analysis and project management experience.
Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks.
Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints.

Nice To Haves

Planning system skills preferred.
2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide Sr. Buyer / Buyer with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory.
Provide in-season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans.
Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in department strategies.
Optimize seasonal inventory flow.
In-season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets.
Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals.
Use MFP (Michaels Financial Planning) to create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs.
Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans.
Incorporate correction of errors.
Recommend "wave breaks" for seasonal flow.
Recommend optimal inner and master packs.
Partner with pricing and Sr. Buyer / Buyer to make appropriate in-season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product.
Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities.
Develop and adhere to critical timelines.
Ensure assortments are completed within specific timeframes.
Participate in assortment plan review with category management team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations.
Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline.
Implement discontinue timing.
Implement order placement timing for new product with Sr. Buyer / Buyer and replenishment team.
Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast.
Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials.