Merchandise Planner

HADDAD BRANDS EUROPE; Hilversum; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Haddad Brands Europe in Hilversum, Netherlands, is seeking a Business Planner to optimize inventory and drive sales through data-driven planning. You will collaborate with Sales and Operations to manage stock levels and forecast needs, shaping assortments and performance reviews across key retail accounts.

Ideal candidates have a strong analytical mindset, experience in retail planning, and proficiency with planning tools. Start date ASAP, permanent contract, on-site in Hilversum.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field.
• Any suitable combination of education, experience, and training will be considered.
• 5+ years of experience in retail planning and/or product management.

Responsibilities

• Managing inventory levels, optimizing stock availability, and ensuring efficient replenishment strategies.
• Analyzing retail sales data, proactively looking for opportunities and risks within the account and delivering quantitative and qualitative recommendations to the team.
• Creating long-term intake plans based on market capacity inclusive of stock & sales with a focus on continuity ranges.
• Working hand in hand with the Sales Director and Operations Manager to manage the order book to maximise sales and reduce stock holding.
• Aligning Haddad and the account financial plans through the account gross-to-net model, account sell-through, store growth, and marketplace information such as demographics, consumer profile & insight.
• Delivering seasonal performance teardowns influencing assortment creation and buy requirements.
• Sharing business reviews with the account, account team, and internal cross-functional partners.
• Identifying potential opportunities and risks against inventory plans and developing actionable recommendations for execution.
• Working with IT and SPS Commerce to establish automated retail sales feeds and monitor performance of data-sharing feeds.
• Delivering weekly retail and sales reports preparation (with data quality verification).
• Supporting ad hoc reporting such as weekly stock lists.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field

Any suitable combination of education, experience, and training

5+ years of experience in retail planning and/or product management

Tools

SPS Commerce

Excel

Job description

Haddad Brands Europe, founded in 2017, specializes in the distribution of children's apparel under exclusive licenses (Nike, Levi's, Converse, Jordan, Lacoste…) across Europe.

Operational for 9 years, the company has experienced remarkable growth and now counts over 500 employees throughout Europe.

We distribute our products both through wholesale, working with major multi-brand and specialized retailers, and through retail, via our corners in leading department stores.

In concrete terms, this means that if you purchase children's apparel (0–7 years for Nike, 0–16 years for Levi's, Converse, and Jordan), whether in a physical store, online, in the Netherlands, the UK, Italy, or anywhere else in Europe, the product you're holding has gone through us — even if you bought it in an official Nike or Levi's store!

Job Title: Business Planner in Hilversum (Netherlands)

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Managing inventory levels, optimizing stock availability, and ensuring efficient replenishment strategies
• Analyzing retail sales data, proactively looking for opportunities and risks within the account and delivering quantitative and qualitative recommendations to the team
• Creating long-term intake plans based on market capacity inclusive of stock & sales with a focus on continuity ranges
• Working hand in hand with the Sales Director and Operations Manager to manage the order book to maximise sales and reduce stock holding
• Aligning Haddad and the account financial plans through the account gross-to-net model, account sell-through, store growth, and marketplace information such as demographics, consumer profile & insight
• Delivering seasonal performance teardowns influencing assortment creation and buy requirements
• Sharing business reviews with the account, account team, and internal cross-functional partners
• Identifying potential opportunities and risks against inventory plans and developing actionable recommendations for execution
• Working with IT and SPS Commerce to establish automated retail sales feeds and monitor performance of data-sharing feeds
• Delivering weekly retail and sales reports preparation (with data quality verification)
• Supporting ad hoc reporting such as weekly stock lists

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field
• Any suitable combination of education, experience, and training will be considered
• 5+ years of experience in retail planning and/or product management

TECHNICAL & BUSINESS SKILLS

• Strong command of retail metrics including Retail Sales, Sell Through %, Weeks of Supply, Inventories (marketplace + DC), Revenue, and Margin
• Ability to manipulate data efficiently
• Strong ability to analyse large datasets, including SKU-level performance
• Experience in developing an understanding of customers, competitors, and retail trends
• Experience with planning software/tools is welcome
• Strong MS Office knowledge, especially Excel
• Knowledge of the sports market is welcome

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Exceptional communication skills
• Strong analytical rigor
• Relationship-building ability
• Commercial and entrepreneurial mindset
• Proactive approach and strong information-seeking skills
• Ability to work in a matrix organisation and with cross-functional teams

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

• Start Date: ASAP
• Location: Hilversum
• Employment Type: Permanent Contract