Merchandise Planner

DTLR, Inc.

5d•$60,000 - $65,000

About The Position

The Merchandise Planner develops, executes, and maintains merchandise plans and forecasts for a specific merchandise category. The role develops forecasts for future merchandise buys using historical sales, receiving buys, and current inventory levels, and helps ensure that planned sales, gross margin, and markdowns are achieved in each product division. The Merchandise Planner identifies business risks and develops action plans with the Senior Merchandise Planner, Director of Merchandise Planning, and Divisional Merchandise Managers to mitigate inventory issues and maximize profitability. The position creates and maintains department, class, and unit plans; manages the open-to-buy process for assigned categories; analyzes historical performance and current trends; and adjusts plans as sales and trends change. It prepares reports, recaps, analysis, and recommendations for management, including promotion proposals, regional performance analysis, and strategies for aged inventory. The role also collaborates on brand assortment planning and performs other duties as assigned. The role requires strong merchandising, analytical, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills; proficiency with planning systems and Microsoft Office; retail math expertise; and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. A four-year degree is required, along with relevant buying or buying, planning, and placement experience. The employee must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and meet the listed physical requirements, including occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds. The listed pay range is $60,000–$65,000, depending on experience. The role is eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), sick leave, parental leave, and a company-paid time-off plan.

Requirements

Four-year degree required.
Three to five years of related buying experience, or five to seven years with a mix of buying, planning, and placement responsibilities.
Strong merchandising, product, and analytical skills.
Demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills.
Proficiency with desktop applications, Windows-based programs, planning systems, and Microsoft Office.
Retail math literacy and the ability to apply retail math concepts to daily operations.
Solid business knowledge and excellent English-language communication skills for communicating with management, associates, and customers.
Ability to plan, organize, multitask, set priorities, and respond proactively to changing demands from multiple sources.
Results-driven, with critical and creative thinking skills.
Project management, time management, analytical, and organizational skills.
Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in all situations.
Ability to execute directives with precision and consistency.
Ability to understand product presentation.
Ability to think strategically and plan and organize effectively.
Excellent customer service skills in person, by phone, and in writing.
Comfort working in a team-based structure and independently when needed.
Flexibility and ability to adapt quickly and react to business needs and change.
Detail orientation, excellent time management, and a strong sense of urgency.
Ability to identify and clearly communicate business opportunities and risks.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills; strong team-player skills.
May require the ability to train and develop others.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
Regularly sit and stand; frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear; occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and have the specified close-vision, distance-vision, and depth-perception abilities.

Responsibilities

Create and maintain merchandise plans by department and class.
Manage the open-to-buy process for specific merchandise categories.
Adjust plans and forecasts in response to trends and sales.
Analyze historical data and current trends weekly to identify opportunities and risks by vendor, style, and classification.
Present analysis and action plans to management.
Recap monthly and quarterly performance by class against plan and support Divisional Merchandise Managers with action steps.
Create and maintain unit plans for specific merchandise categories.
Analyze sales and margin to identify opportunities and categories to divest.
Propose planned promotions based on profitability and sales goals.
Perform regional merchandise performance analysis.
Analyze aged inventory and propose liquidation strategies for specific merchandise categories.
Prepare daily, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal sales reports.
Create Monday reports and recaps to analyze the business and direct actions for the current week.
Collaborate on the brand assortment planning process.
Prepare ad hoc recaps as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.