The Associate Merchandise Planner will be a key business partner with Buyer and Sr Buyer to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin and inventory.
Major Activities
Analysis:
- Provide Sr Buyer/Buyer with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
- Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in dept strategies
- Optimize seasonal inventory flow
- In season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
- Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals
Purchase Planning:
- Using MFP (Michaels Financial Planning) to create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
- Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
- Incorporates correction of errors
- Recommend "wave breaks" for seasonal flow
- Recommend optimal inner and master packs
- Work with pricing and Sr Buyer/Buyer to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
- Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
- Develop and adhere to critical timelines
Assortment Planning:
- Ensure assortments are completed within specific time frames
- Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations.
Reset support:
- Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline
- Implement discontinue timing
- Implement order placement timing for new product with Sr Buyer/Buyer and Replenishment Team
- Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast
- Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Education
- BS or equivalent
- Business, retail or related field
Minimum Special Certifications or technical skills
- Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel
Minimum Type of experience the job requires
- 2+ years in retail
- Numerical analysis and project management experience
Other
- Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
- Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints
Preferred Special Certifications or technical skills
- Planning system skills preferred
Preferred Type of experience the job requires
- 2+ years in retail planning or financial planning preferred
Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.
