Merchandise Planner

The Merchandise Planner develops, executes, and maintains merchandise plans and forecasts for a specific merchandise category. The Merchandise Planner will develop plans and forecasts for future merchandise buys based on historical sales, receiving buys, and current inventory levels. The role helps ensure planned sales, planned gross margin, and planned markdowns are achieved in each product division. They will be able to identify risks to the business and develop action plans in cooperation with the Senior Merchandise Planner, the Director of Merchandise Planning, and Divisional Merchandise Managers to mitigate inventory issues and maximize profitability.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Create and maintain merchandise plans by department and class

• Manage OTB process for specific merchandise categories

• Adjust plans and forecasts as necessary to react to trends and sales

• Analyze historical data and current trends on a weekly basis to identify opportunities and risks by vendor, styles, and classifications. Present analysis and action plans to management

• Recap monthly and quarterly performance by class against plan to support DMM’s 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 • Daily, monthly, quarterly, and seasonal sales reporting

• Create Monday reports and recaps used to analyze business and direct actions for current week

• Collaborates on brand assortment planning process

• Ad hoc recaps as needed

• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong merchandising, product and analytical skills

• Demonstrated leadership and decision-making skills

• Proficiency in the use of desktop applications and Windows-based programs

• Retail math literacy and application of concepts to daily operations

• Work requires a solid knowledge of business and an excellent command of the English language to effectively communicate with management, associates and customers

• Proven ability to plan, organize, multi-task, set priorities effectively and efficiently to proactively respond to changing demands, from multiple sources

• Results driven with demonstrated critical and creative thinking skills

• Project management, time management, analytical and superior organizational skills required.

• Must be able to maintain an exemplary degree of professionalism in all situations

• The ability to execute directives with precision and consistency

• Proven ability to understand product presentation

• Must demonstrate an ability to think strategically, plan and organize effectively

• May require the ability to train and develop others

• Excellent customer service skills, in person, on the phone and in writing

• Comfortable with team-based work structure and, when needed, the ability to work independently

• Demonstrate flexibility on the job

• Ability to adapt quickly and react to business needs and change

• Detail oriented, excellent time management with strong sense of urgency

• Ability to identify and clearly communicate business opportunities and risks

• Proficiency in Planning systems and Microsoft Office

• Expertise in retail math with strong analytical skills

• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills

• Strong team player

Education and Experience

• 4-year degree required

• 3-5 years in related buying experience or 5-7 years with a mix of buying, planning and placement responsibilities

Physical Requirements

∙ While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk; or hear.

∙ The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

∙ Specific vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

∙ The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.

General Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified. DTLR, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Pay range:

$60,000 - $75,000 (Depending on Experience); This role will be eligible for medical, dental, vision, 401k, sick leave, parental leave, and company paid time off plan.