Demand Planner

Loaf (Loaf.com); Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced family leave policy

Staff and friends and family discount

Healthcare cash plan

EAP programme

Shopping discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Half a day for Christmas shopping

Life Assurance - 4x annual salary

Job summary

Loaf is seeking a Demand Planner to own category forecasting, trading and insights within the Product Planning function. You will lead data-driven decisions on stock, range strategy and launches, partnering with development teams to optimise performance across core categories.

The role requires strong analytical ability, advanced Excel and familiarity with Power BI, plus experience at Merchandiser or Demand Planner level. Join Loaf’s collaborative London team.

Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills and strong organizational abilities.
• Advanced Excel skills; Power BI experience is a plus.
• Good time management and ability to work across internal teams.
• People-management experience or aptitude to guide and develop a junior team member.
• Experience at Merchandiser or Demand Planner level.

Responsibilities

• Own the trading and performance of core categories, providing weekly and monthly analysis with actionable insights.
• Forecasting, planning orders, and maintaining department linecards in collaboration with the Head of Product Planning.
• Update range plans monthly and at year-end, and support new launches with data-driven decisions.
• Partner with Product Development during launch planning to inform range decisions and sales forecasts.
• Run markdowns, manage stock, and communicate changes across functions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Time management

Communication

People management

Advanced Excel

Tools

Power BI

Job description

At Loaf we make insanely comfy sofas, beds and homewares that help people lead more comfortable lives. Founded in 2008, Loaf has steadily grew each year to become one of the leading premium furniture and homeware brands in the UK. We now have 12 Shacks (stores to everyone else!), with more on the way. It's an exciting time to join an ambitious business.

As Demand Planner, you'll be at the heart of our Product Planning function, owning the day-to-day forecasting and trading of your categories. You'll go beyond the numbers to bring real insight into product and category performance, helping the business make sharper, faster decisions on stock, sales and range.

This role will report into the Head of Product Planning.

The Job

• Category Trading & Insight
• Own the trading and performance of core categories.
• Produce weekly, monthly and ad hoc category analysis, presenting clear, concise insight with recommended actions in meetings.
• Trade categories continually to optimise sales and stock — keeping availability strong while avoiding overstocks.
• Forecasting & Planning
• Maintain and update department linecards, forecasts and planning orders, signing off with the Head of Product Planning.
• Keep category range plans accurate and current, updating monthly and at year end, and setting up new launches.
• Range & Launch Planning
• Partner with Product Development during launch planning, providing analysis to inform range decisions, sales forecasts and initial order quantities.
• Carry out brochure and web launch checks ahead of go-live.
• Markdown & Stock Management
• Propose phase-outs and sign off markdowns, attending key markdown meetings.
• Run system and online checks, communicate markdowns across functions, and manage sale stock by proposing further markdowns as needed.
• Team & Store Support
• Manage and develop the Junior Demand Planner, providing training and support for their progression.
• Review Shack (store) performance against floor plans, space and product range/attributes, feeding into the most commercially successful displays.
• Support ad hoc inter-departmental requests and queries, and supply information as needed.

We're looking for

• Highly analytical, with excellent organisational skills.
• Advanced Excel skills and a strong interest in systems; experience with Power BI is a plus.
• Strong time management — able to prioritise, multi-task and hit deadlines.
• Confident communicator, comfortable working across internal teams.
• A proactive problem-solver who spots issues early and looks for ways to improve processes and systems.
• Good commercial awareness of our customer and market to inform forecasting and sales analysis.
• Some people-management experience or aptitude, to guide, motivate and develop a junior team member.
• Currently operating at Merchandiser or Demand Planner level.

Some Of Our Benefits

• 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 day each year for 3 years, plus 8 days for bank holidays
• Enhanced family leave policy
• Staff and friends and family discount scheme
• Healthcare cash plan
• EAP programme
• Shopping discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Half a day for Christmas shopping
• Life Assurance - 4 times annual salary

What's it like working at Loaf?

We are a forward-thinking, friendly bunch committed to building a fabulous company with brilliant people. The customer is at the heart of everything we do and we're always striving for better, more efficient ways to deliver to the highest standard.

As a business, we're working really hard to be inclusive. No matter what identity or background, we want everyone to feel welcome in a place where we can all be ourselves.

We'd love you to join us on our journey.