Merchandise Planner-Homeware

SUMMARY:

A leading retailer is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Merchandise Planner - Homeware to join the team. This exciting opportunity is ideal for an individual with strong retail planning experience, a passion for customer-focused assortments, and the ability to optimise inventory and financial performance. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and executing merchandise financial plans and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver a world-class shopping experience and drive departmental success.

POSITION INFO:

Main Purpose

Develop and deliver integrated department merchandise planning strategies to meet KPI’s and manage inventory efficiently. Deliver impact and value, balance quality with speed, shape the future with technology and insight driven decision making and action.

Develop and Execute Merchandise Financial Plan

• Collaborate with cross functional teams to compile and develop a departmental strategy in line with Group strategy.
• Develop merchandise plan to anticipate seasonal differences in demand and minimise various risks.
• Develop and present seasonal department budget and merchandise financial plans, including OTB strategy, channel strategy, range and price architecture, promotional and clearance plan, and assortment plans to leadership for sign off.
• Consider all group inputs, including strategic initiatives, key operational metrics, and post-seasonal analysis.
• Analyse historical sales data, market trends, and customer demand to inform MFP.
• Manage the release of OTB (Open-to-Buy) to ensure alignment of sales and stock KPI’s.
• Review & revise department financial plan monthly in line with trading ensuring delivery of all KPI’s.

Develop and execute Assortment Plan

• Partner with Buying to provide a balanced assortment and option plan based on thorough post-seasonal analysis, strategy, space and application of trends.
• Partner with Buying to develop and present the price architecture and provide guidance on the appropriate number of price points per category.
• Conduct product review and present final volumes and established flow of newness over time.
• Review and ensure grade assortment can be executed given available space & customer insights reports.
• Ensure a disciplined application of the attribute framework in the assortment plan.

Develop and Execute Optimised Inventory Management

• Manage stock commitments, reporting and targets at all levels and ensure effective management of intake and flow of stock, warehouse utilisation & processes.
• Proactively identify opportunities to review inventory against plan and propose amendments in line with KPI delivery.
• Share planning forecast and range plan with Sourcing Specialists to inform high-level and detailed capacity plan across Groups.

Leveraging insights

• Pre-season engagement with Central Planning Analysts to review and refine analytics (APS, Profiles & Sales Profiler)
• Analyse customer feedback, sales data, and market trends to make data-driven decisions and better inform future product demand.
• Manage planning admin in all applicable systems in line with the requirements of the retailers merchandise cycle.
• As a team, conduct competitive shopping and store visits and share findings to Leadership and broader team.
• Participate in weekly trade meetings to discuss business performance with appropriate action focus.
• Participate in company initiatives as appropriate.
• Conduct seasonal sizing profile reviews with Store Planner.