Merchandising Assortment Planner

Mason Companies, Inc.•Chippewa Falls, WI

About The Position

The Merchandising Assortment Planner is responsible for a wholistic review of statistical data, and the development of assortment recommendations based on those findings. The goal of the Merchandising Assortment Planner is to improve overall profitability and inventory productivity. This role will work closely with cross functional partners to drive corporate initiatives to meet financial expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Merchandising, Marketing or related field preferred. Will consider candidates without a bachelor’s degree who have 5-7 years of requisite experience.
3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in Merchandising, Merchandise Financial Planning or Inventory Management preferred.
Experience in merchandising, product management, or a similar role within a corporate retail environment.
Strong understanding of retail financial metrics and processes.
Familiarity of retail buying processes and market timelines.
Proven ability to analyze complex data sets and develop strategies based on analysis.
Strong organization skills, time management and attention to detail.
Proactive problem solving and process improvement mindset.
Ability to work and problem solve independently.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and external vendors.
Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the footwear, apparel, and general merchandise categories is a plus.

Responsibilities

Analyze product offerings and sales results to determine optimal assortment offerings for future seasons.
Recommend SKU counts by brand, product hierarchy and sales channel.
Present exhaustive assortment plans to key stake holders. These include but are not limited to Buyers, Inventory Analysts, Divisional Merchandising Managers and the Vice President of Merchandising.
Collaborate with key stake holders to understand any preliminary future trends that would influence overall assortment recommendations.
Utilize channel and brand specific customer profiles to ensure assortment offerings align with target customers.
Routinely review progress to Assortment Plan execution. Report findings to Merchandising Leadership team and offer recommendations to rectify any deviations.
Develop preseason financial plans based on recommended assortment offerings. This includes sales, margin, cost of goods sold and receipts.
Collaborate with cross functional teams to understand corporate strategies that would directly influence sales, margin and inventory trends.
Review in season sales performance versus assortment plan. Deliver in depth analysis to key stake holders.
Other duties as assigned.