Merchandise Planning Assistant / Specialist

Position Overview

We seek a detail-oriented and commercially savvy Merchandise Planning Assistant / Specialist to enhance product planning, inventory control, and sales effectiveness. This role encompasses examining business and product metrics, overseeing inventory statuses, supporting assortment strategies, and ensuring optimal product timing and quantity.

Core Duties

• Assist in merchandise planning functions including sales analysis, inventory monitoring, demand forecasting, and assortment evaluation.
• Create and manage precise reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and planning documentation.
• Analyze product sales trends, performance indicators, stock levels, and critical business metrics.
• Support assortment planning, product allocation, inventory replenishment, and seasonal strategy formulation.
• Track inventory to detect overstock issues, shortages, and slow-moving items.
• Monitor product performance metrics to provide insights aiding merchandising and commercial decision-making.
• Work collaboratively with merchandising, buying, sales, supply chain, and other teams cross-functionally.
• Ensure accurate and current planning data across all relevant platforms and reports.
• Contribute to enhancing inventory efficiency, product availability, and the overall company performance.
• Participate in additional analysis and planning tasks as needed.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business, Retail Management, Merchandising, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain, or related areas.
• Strong analytical and quantitative aptitude with the capability to interpret sales and inventory datasets.
• Good grasp of merchandise planning, inventory processes, forecasting, and retail business fundamentals.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and skilled in data analysis and reporting applications.
• Excellent organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy.
• Competence in recognizing trends, patterns, business opportunities, and risks through data analysis.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities combined with a proactive and commercially driven approach.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities, organize tasks efficiently, and meet deadlines.
• Openness to learning new tools, systems, and merchandise planning methodologies.
• Genuine enthusiasm for retail, product knowledge, customer insights, and data-informed decision-making.