Merchandise Planner

Halfords; Redditch; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Redditch is looking for a Merchandise Planner who will oversee inventory management and product placement. This role involves working closely with various teams to ensure that products are available at the right time and place, making data-driven decisions to enhance customer experience. The ideal candidate will have experience in retail supply chain management, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally. The position offers a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and extensive employee benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary bonus

Employee discounts

Pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience in a retail supply chain role is essential.
• Ability to make data-led decisions for customer experience.
• Must thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage inventory budgets according to KPIs.
• Influence forecast and commercial decisions with teams.
• Work with logistics on product stock flow management.

Skills

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Data handling skills

Strong negotiation skills

Retail supply chain experience

Communication skills

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

About us

At Halfords, our mission is to inspire and support a lifetime of motoring and cycling. As a specialist retailer, we lead the market through customer-driven innovation and a distinct product range. We are dedicated to providing our customers with an integrated, unique, and convenient service experience—from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand solutions. Our commitment is to foster customer loyalty by offering compelling reasons to keep coming back to our stores, ensuring a lifetime of motoring and cycling enjoyment.

The teams at our Redditch Support Centre work with every other area of our business, putting them at the heart of the action and playing a key role in our success and growth. Everyone brings their individual knowledge and experience to work every day, working as one team to keep things moving smoothly.

If you’re willing to get stuck in, you’ll love it here too. So put yourself at the heart of a dynamic, fast-paced working environment where expertise and focus take people far.

About the role

Working in partnership with the Buyers, Marketing, Store Development, Quality, Operations, Digital teams and Suppliers our Merchandise Planners play a pivotal role within the business making sure we have the right products, in the right place, at the right time for both our store and online customers. You will work closely with the Trading team producing relevant information and analysis to help inform commercial decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Manage inventory stock budgets within OTB and to agreed availability and stockturn KPI’s.
• Own the sales volume forecast for specific categories under your control, taking input from trading teams and suppliers for new ranges, promotions and seasons.
• Own and manage intake plans in line with budget expectations.
• Influence sales and margin forecasts with buyers.
• Influence commercial decisions made with buyers and our space planning team.
• Help drive multichannel improvements.
• Ensure promotions and range reviews are landed in store, on time and to plan.
• Work to ensure clean exits of promotional product.
• Work to ensure obsolete and redundant stock targets are met.
• Influence and work with the logistics team to manage end-to-end product stock flow.
• Manage regular supplier communications with regular meetings and forecasts.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance.
• Ensure strong communication with retail operations.

About you

• A highly motivated, experienced individual with a passion for retail who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven track record of high performance in a retail supply chain role.
• Obsessed with delivering exceptional customer experiences through smart, data-led decisions.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and commercial skills.
• SAP / BW experience. Power BI an advantage.
• Strong excel and data handling skills.
• Be able to communicate confidently & concisely to all levels within the business.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• A proven team player demonstrating the ability to work cross functionally within a business.

Reward & benefits

A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave.

Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations.

We offer hybrid working in our Support Centre, you will be based at our Support Centre 3 days a week with an optional 2 days working from home.

You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services.

Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.

Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.

At Halfords, we operate a hybrid working policy with 3 days on site at our Support Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire.