Merchandise Planner

**Job Number**
- 71946

**Job Type**
- Permanent

**Job Title**
- Merchandise Planner

**Computer Skills**
- Ms Office

**Industry**
- Consumer Products - FMCG

**City**
- Epping

**Province**
- Western Cape

**Reporting to: Head of Planning**
- an experienced Merchandise Planner to work within our portfolio of well known international fashion brands and assist the business in expanding both channels and improving profitability. The role will encompass both store and assortment planning for the retail channels; as well as working with the Brand/Sales Managers to support the wholesale business with demand planning.**Essential Duties and Responsibilities**
- Preparation of seasonal sales and stock plans, encompassing unit projections, price inflation targeting, and product mix optimization.
- Preparation of Seasonal analysis of each Brand in order to fully understand the performance down to the lowest SKU Level; and to use such analysis for Critical Forward Planning for each Brand.
- Assisting with the compilation of annual sales budgets, with ongoing reforecasts at a store, category and product level to ensure achievability and to rebalance OTB commitments.
- Management of the forward order pipeline with international vendors by ensuring OTB commitments are aligned to the budgeted sales plans and Principal Commercial Contracts.
- Managing the critical path of each brand respectively, to optimise the relevant timelines and ensure key interventions are conducted on time.
- Continual assessment of store performance and implementation of stock management techniques to keep the business aligned to key indicators; including but not limited to effective replensihment to maximise sales performance and market share.
- Providing support to the Brand Manager/s and Head of Planning with the setting and maintenance of prices and margins across the range.
- Compilation of regular management and operational reporting to bring visibility to business operations.
- Working closely with the Brand and Purchasing & Customer Services Teams to formulate commercially practical ranges whilst providing and presenting data that supports informed decision making.
- Working with and providing direction and/or guidance to the allocations team to replenish stock to stores to eliminate lost sales opportunities.
- Work jointly with Store Operations to ensure grading/option plan is in line with space management (pre-season).
- Ensure integration of ratio management in all merchandising activities.
- Ensure that best practise is actioned for in-depth analysis to support buying commitment decisions for each Brand as appropriate.
- Review and action fact-based category input and feedback for internal/external stakeholders.
- Guide the Operational teams for best practice end-to-end in season management including management of best sellers and worst sellers, in season stock cover management, in season reactivity and sales to space management.
- Provide guidance and strategy for execution of end of season stock management.
- Oversee the optimal flow of merchandise including fulfilment of product/marketing introduction deadlines/capacity planning.
- To work collaboratively with Marketing and Brand, Visual Merchandising (VM) and Store Operations.
- To support the Business and Finance Teams when conductng Business Reviews for each of the Brands as appropriate.**Inherent Requirements**

**Education and Experience Requirements**
- Essential: Matric
- Desirable: Relevant business related tertiary qualification
- Essential: Minimum 3 years relevant merchandise planning experience in a retail environment

**Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**
- Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
- Negotiation skills
- Communication skills
- Commercial thinking
- Presentation skills
- Knowledge of IT systems and data analytics
- Client account management
- Knowledge of market trends and the retail landscape
- Self - starter and manage own tasks and responsibilities

**What Qualification**

**Minimum Qualification**
- Diploma

**Status**
- Available