The Merchandise Planner supports the development and execution of merchandise sales, inventory, and margin strategies to drive business performance and achieve corporate financial goals. This role partners closely with Merchandising, Finance, Production, Marketing, Wholesale, and cross-functional teams to provide timely analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations that support inventory optimization and sales growth.
The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment. This is a hybrid position with a minimum of three days in the Los Angeles headquarters per week.
Responsibilities
Assist in developing financial merchandise sales and inventory plans that support corporate targets by department, store, and category
Analyze weekly and monthly performance of sales, margin, and inventory turns against plan and forecast
Assist in the creation and maintenance of departmental Open-to-Buty (OTB) plans, including accurate forecasting of sales, inventory, and receipt plans by category
Develop seasonal plans by analyzing historical data, current trends, risks, and opportunities
Create and manage reorders by evaluating stock levels and sales forecasts for Core Program categories
Support inventory optimization and replenishment strategies to maximize sales and minimize inventory risk
Partner with Merchandising teams to conduct business reviews highlighting trends, risks, opportunities, and actionable recommendations
Partner with Wholesale teams to report sales performance and bookings
Create and recap plans for key promotional and liquidation strategies
Create, update, and maintain ad hoc reports, analysis, and business recaps as needed
Identify opportunities to streamline, automate, and improve planning processes and reporting tools
Manage Buy Creation uplo into internal systems in partnership with Merchandising and Production teams
Build strong cross-functional relationships to support business objectives and execute planning strategies effectively
Collaborate with Finance, Merchandising, Productions, Marketing, Wholesale, and Operations teams to support overall company performance
Requirements
Bachelor's degree
3–5 years of experience in merchandise planning, buying, inventory management, financial planning, or related field
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUPs
Strong attention to detail with excellent follow-through skills
Excellent organizational and communication skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work collaboratively and productively in a team environment
Professional, positive, and solution-oriented attitude
Nice-to-haves
Experience in retail, fashion, accessories, or consumer goods industries
Experience with ERP systems, reporting tools, or merchandise planning software
Understanding of merchandising, inventory flow, assortment planning, and retail financial metrics