Business Planner Sports Retail

ISRID Agency | Fashion & Luxury Recruitment; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 50.000 - 80.000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Amsterdam is seeking a Business Planner to drive sales and profitability across multiple merchandise categories. The role involves financial planning, inventory management, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to optimize product allocation strategies, significantly impacting the company's growth in the competitive retail landscape.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of buying/planning experience.
• Proficient in data analysis and retail math.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales and profitability across merchandise categories.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for optimal stock levels.
• Analyze sales reports and forecast demand.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Supply Chain Management

MBA

Tools

Excel

Inventory Management Software

Data Visualization Tools

Job description

Client: Retailors ( European Office, located in Amsterdam )

Recruitment and candidate selections by Isrid Agency

About the company:

Retailors, a subsidiary of Fox Group is a leading, fast growing retailor, specializing in the sports, athleisure segment and is a global partner of choice to operate Nike retail locations in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. The European Head office is located in Amsterdam.

Position Overview

Business Planner:

The Business Planner plays a critical role in driving sales and profitability across multiple merchandise categories within our global retail company. Working closely with Divisional Product Managers and their buying teams, the Business Planner is tasked with meeting or exceeding sales and profit objectives. This involves overseeing the development and successful execution of topside and store financial plans, assortment/buy plans, and product allocation and size planning strategies.

This role sits at the forefront of our Retail Operations team, ensuring strategic allocation of products to various stores and channels in alignment with customer demand, sales trends, and inventory availability. Expertise in demand forecasting, inventory management, and data analysis is essential to optimize product allocation strategies, directly contributing to the company's growth and profitability.

Collaboration with cross-functional teams is paramount, as the Business Planner works to maintain optimal stock levels, enhance product availability, and maximize sales performance across our retail network. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the management of product assortment and inventory, making a significant impact in the dynamic and competitive retail landscape.

Responsibilities:

• Financial Planning, Demand Forecasting, and Wage Factor Analysis:

Collaborate with Divisional Product Managers to conduct comprehensive Business Reviews.

Assist in developing and reviewing recommended vendor and store matrices, ensuring effective communication to stores.

Contribute to the development of sales targets, including wage factor analysis.

Assist in formulating department-level store sales plans and review topside

plansmonthly, considering wage factors.

Participate in formal departmental topside plan reviews and support group-level topside

planning incorporating wage factor insights.

Coordinate with Regional Planning to communicate topside and store plans to stores,

accounting for wage considerations.

Contribute to the development of key item plans, taking into account wage-related

dynamics.

Participate in process enhancements related to planning and open-to-buy with a focus

on wage factor analysis for better decision-making.

• Purchasing, Allocation, and Replenishment:

Provide insights into assortment planning and review allocation strategies.

Contribute to creating and reviewing assortment matrices and buy plans.

Monitor allocation tables, sizing contribution grids, and store volume clusters.

Support allocation strategy sessions and incorporate store demographics into assortment and allocation strategies.

Assist in size planning and review purchase order placement and maintenance.

Collaborate with buying teams to identify distribution and vendor logistics opportunities.

Support the development of case pack and order flow recommendations.

Contribute to store space strategies in partnership with the retail stakeholders.

• Analysis and Insights:

Analyze sales reports, sales target plans evaluating their effectiveness.

Review sales unit performance reports and provide actionable insights.

Stay updated on industry trends and competitive analysis.

• Additional R&R:

Collaborate with senior leadership to develop long-term strategic plans for product assortment, inventory management, and sales growth.

Conduct in-depth market analysis to identify emerging trends, consumer preferences, and competitive landscape, providing insights to inform product strategies.

Assist in developing pricing strategies based on market demand, competitive analysis, and profit margin objectives.

Coordinate with cross-functional teams to plan and execute successful product launches, including inventory management, marketing campaigns, and sales forecasting.

Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness of product assortment strategies, inventory turnover rates, and sales performance.

Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies in planning, allocation,

and replenishment processes, driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Lead or participate in special projects as assigned by senior management, contributing

to strategic initiatives aimed at driving business growth and profitability.

Job Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field. Master's degree is a plus. MBA preferred.

5-10 years of buying and/or planning experience, retail demand forecasting, inventory management, and product allocation.

Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis and interpretation.

Advanced proficiency in Excel, inventory management software, and data visualization

tools.

Fluency in English is required for this role to effectively communicate

with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with various

teams.

Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload.

Problem-solving mindset and ability to make data-driven decisions.

Knowledge of retail industry trends and competitive landscape.

Proficiency in retail math, including markup, margin planning, open-to-buy, and

inventory productivity measures.

Excellent communication and presentation skills with exposure to senior management.

Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills, particularly in managing teams.

Key Competencies:

Organizing & Planning

Problem Solving / Decision Making

Results Orientation

Business Acumen

Command Skills

Conflict Management

Dealing with Ambiguity

Drive for Results

Communication Processes

Relationship Building

Functional Expertise

Key Relationships:

Other:

VP Business Planning (matrixial reporting line)

GM West Europe (Direct reporting line)

Product Director, Commercial Managers, Buyers, & Inventory Allocators

District & Store leadership teams

Product Planner EU & IL

Finance team

Travel may be required based on the needs of the business

Must be willing/flexible to work based on workload peaks/retail operating hours.

We are looking forward to your application!

Isrid Agency