Job Title: Sr. Planner & Merchandiser
Department: Planning and Merchandising
Reports To: Head - Planning and Merchandising /GM
Job Description
Financial Planning & Analysis:
⢠Develop and manage Brand Annual Budgets for sales, margins, and markdowns.
⢠Conduct Post-Seasonal Analysis to evaluate past performance at Department, Class, Sub-Class, and
Item levels to guide future strategies.
⢠Collaborate with Buyers to propose Seasonal Strategies on Sales, Price Points, Size, Color, and
Assortment Dimensions based on past performance and future trends.
⢠Prepare and propose Seasonal Budgets/OTB (Open-to-Buy) from Brand
down to Class/Sub-Class levels, ensuring alignment with financial goals such
as Sales, Opening/Closing Stocks, Inflows, Forward Covers, and Sales
Margins.
⢠Develop WSSI (Weekly Sales and Stock Intake) reports, projecting Sales, Opening/Closing Stocks,
Forward Covers, and Planned Inflows by month/season.
⢠Create Store Grading at the Class/Sub-Class levels to determine the appropriate width and depth of
ranges for different store sizes (Medium/Small), optimizing stock levels for display capacity.
⢠Collaborate with Buyers to finalize the Buy Plan (Range Plan) by season, ensuring it aligns with
financial targets, inventory needs, and product assortment plans.
⢠Track and report on performance throughout the season, comparing actual performance against
planned objectives, adjusting strategies as needed.
⢠Identify any exceptions or discrepancies in Sales, Stockholdings, Forward Covers, and Inflows and
propose corrective actions in collaboration with the Buyers.
⢠Monitor Seasonal Budget performance and reforecast as necessary, considering past performance
trends to adjust for Sales, Stocks, and Inflows.
⢠Maintain the OTB tracker, ensuring clear visibility on orders placed, cancellations, and any excess or
underbuys.
Inventory Management:
⢠Ensure the availability of all replenishment items and maintain timely reviews of replenishment
orders to prevent stockouts.
⢠Monitor the flow of stock received in warehouses, ensuring it is allocated to stores and is actively
selling. Collaborate with Buyers and Stores to resolve any out-of-stock situations.
⢠Develop and communicate the allocation plan for seasonal/product launches in collaboration with
Buyers, ensuring timely execution for both retail stores and wholesale partners.
⢠Manage and track sell-through rates at the season and product level to optimize markdowns and
avoid excess stock.
⢠Analyze aging stock and propose actions for clearance or redistribution, communicating necessary
steps to the Stores.
⢠Ensure timely communication with Stores to address any stock consolidation requirements.
Pricing & Margin Management:
⢠Collaborate with Buyers to align on pricing for new shipments, ensuring it meets target intake
margins.
⢠Monitor sell-through performance of both fast-moving and slow-moving items, proposing corrective
actions for price adjustments, reorders, or markdowns.
⢠Propose and manage price adjustments for slow-selling items, ensuring alignment with the Buyer's
strategy and obtaining Management approval before communicating actions to Stores.
⢠Contribute to Promotion and End-of-Season Sales (EOSS) planning, focusing on pricing strategies,
discounting, and inventory optimization.
Store & Competitor Visits:
⢠Conduct regular store visits to monitor product performance, trends, and customer feedback. Ensure
alignment with the brandâs strategy on quantity, range, pricing, and customer demands.
⢠Stay updated on competitor range compositions, pricing strategies, and overall market trends to
drive competitiveness.
Systems Maintenance & Enhancement:
⢠Ensure the availability and accuracy of reports measuring performance against the planned
objectives, maintaining effective tracking of key KPIs.
⢠Maintain systems, ensuring data integrity, and timely updates to reports and systems. Communicate
any system enhancement needs to the Line Manager for review
Employment Standards
Qualifications:
Basic Qualification / Education / Vocational Training:
⢠Bachelorâs Degree in Retail Fashion Management, Business Administration, or equivalent from an
accredited institution
Advanced Qualification / Certification / Specialist Training:
⢠Post-Graduate Degree or MBA in Retail Management, Business Administration, or a related field is
preferred.
Experience:
⢠Minimum 5-6 years of relevant experience in retail planning, particularly in fashion retail.
⢠Experience in managing financial planning, inventory management, pricing strategies, and open-to-buy
(OTB) planning.
⢠Proven track record of working with Buyers, Merchandisers, and cross-functional teams to meet
business goals.
Skills & Competencies:
⢠Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
⢠Merchandise planning expertise with a deep understanding of inventory management, sales
forecasting, and assortment planning.
⢠Strong knowledge of retail financials, including sales, margins, markdowns, and OTB.
⢠Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
⢠Proficiency in MS Excel (advanced level for financial tracking and data analysis).
⢠Strong communication and negotiation skills to interact with internal and external stakeholders.
⢠Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt quickly to changing market dynamics.
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