Merchandise Planner

Fleet Farm; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fleet Farm is seeking a Merchandise Planner for Hardware to ensure the right products, quantities, and locations at the right time. You will build demand forecasts, track sales and inventory, and partner with Merchandising, Inventory, Marketing, and Supply Chain to drive seasonal demand and launches.

The role emphasizes data-driven recommendations, cross-functional collaboration, and proactive adjustment of plans as market conditions change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience required.
• Experience in retail planning, demand forecasting, and inventory management preferred.
• Strong understanding of demand forecasting, seasonality, and retail drivers.
• Experience with forecasting/planning systems such as JDA, Oracle or SAP/APO.
• Proficient Excel skills and ability to analyze large data sets for trends.
• Ability to translate data into clear recommendations and decisions.
• APICS or similar forecasting/supply chain certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain short- and long-term demand forecasts across Hardware and stores.
• Analyze sales, inventory, and forecast data to identify risks and opportunities.
• Incorporate promotions, seasonality, and launches into planning calendars.
• Monitor forecast performance and adjust to improve accuracy and availability.
• Collaborate with Category Managers, Inventory, Marketing, and Supply Chain partners.
• Develop clear recommendations using financial and market analysis.
• Adjust forecasts proactively as demand or supply changes.
• Support planning for new products, transitions, assortments, and phase-outs.
• Identify trends and communicate risks and opportunities to stakeholders.
• Resolve forecast and data discrepancies with internal teams and vendors.
• Maintain planning calendars and ensure timely delivery of insights.

Skills

Retail planning

Demand forecasting

Merchandise planning

Inventory management

Supply chain

Data analysis

SQL

Power BI

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Analytics, or related field

APICS certification (preferred)

Tools

JDA

Oracle

SAP/APO

Job description

Fuel Our Future with the Power of Planning

Are you a numbers-savvy, detail-oriented problem solver who enjoys turning data into action? Fleet Farm is looking for a Merchandise Planner - Hardware to help ensure we have the right products, in the right quantities, at the right locations, at the right time.

In this highly collaborative role, you'll develop and adjust demand forecasts, analyze sales and inventory trends, and identify opportunities and risks across our Hardware business. You'll work closely with Merchandising, Inventory Management, Marketing, Supply Chain, and vendor partners to develop planning strategies that support seasonal demand, promotional activity, product launches, and overall business growth.

Your insights will directly influence inventory decisions, forecast accuracy, product availability, and the customer experience. If you enjoy connecting data to business strategy, solving problems, and seeing the impact of your work, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain short- and long-term demand forecasts across Hardware products and store locations using sales history, inventory trends, seasonality, promotions, and market signals.
• Analyze sales, inventory, and forecast data to identify risks and opportunities, including potential out-of-stocks, excess inventory, and changes in customer demand.
• Incorporate promotional calendars, seasonal events, product launches, and phase-outs into demand plans to anticipate changes in customer demand and inventory needs.
• Monitor forecast performance and key planning metrics, identifying trends and recommending adjustments to improve forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, and product availability.
• Partner closely with Category Managers, Inventory Management, Marketing, Supply Chain, and vendor partners to align merchandise plans and inventory strategies with business objectives.
• Use financial, operational, and market analysis to develop clear recommendations and support informed business decisions.
• Proactively adjust forecasts and planning recommendations when demand, supply, promotional activity, or market conditions change.
• Support planning strategies for new product introductions, seasonal transitions, assortment changes, and product phase-outs.
• Monitor market and customer trends to identify emerging opportunities and potential impacts to Hardware categories.
• Identify and communicate inventory risks, opportunities, and potential gaps to appropriate business partners.
• Partner with internal teams and vendors to resolve forecast, inventory, and data discrepancies and maintain alignment on planning expectations.
• Manage planning calendars, deadlines, and deliverables to ensure forecasts and recommendations are accurate and completed on time.
• Maintain accurate planning data and documentation while identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, improve planning processes, and reduce manual effort.
• Communicate planning insights, risks, and recommendations clearly and consistently across the organization.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and help create alignment when business priorities or perspectives differ.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Analytics, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in retail planning, demand forecasting, merchandise planning, inventory management, supply chain, or a related analytical role preferred.
• Strong understanding of demand forecasting, inventory planning, seasonality, promotional impacts, and retail business drivers.
• Experience using forecasting, planning, ERP, or inventory management systems such as JDA, Oracle, SAP/APO, or similar platforms.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to analyze large amounts of data and identify meaningful trends.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear recommendations and actionable business decisions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across Merchandising, Inventory, Marketing, Supply Chain, and vendor partners.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Adaptable and comfortable adjusting plans when business conditions change or things don't go according to plan.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate issues, identify root causes, and recommend solutions.
• Ability to use data to support recommendations, navigate differing perspectives, and build alignment across teams.
• Ability to quickly learn and effectively navigate proprietary merchandising, planning, and inventory systems.
• SQL, Power BI, or other data analytics experience is a plus.
• APICS or other forecasting/supply chain certification is a plus.

Why Join Fleet Farm?

As a Merchandise Planner, your work has a direct impact on what our customers see in our stores and what we have available when they need it. You'll work at the intersection of Merchandising, Inventory, Marketing, and Supply Chain, using data and insights to influence decisions that impact our business and customer experience.

You'll have the opportunity to work with seasonal demand, promotional events, new products, changing customer behavior, and evolving business priorities. Your ability to anticipate demand, identify risks, and recommend solutions will help Fleet Farm make smarter inventory decisions and deliver a better experience for our customers.

If you enjoy working with data, solving complex problems, collaborating across teams, and turning analysis into action, we want you to be part of the Fleet Farm team.

Fleet Farm is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and gives all applicants for employment equal consideration regardless of race, color, sex, gender, ethnicity, religious creed or belief, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. Upon request and consistent with applicable laws, Fleet Farm will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in the application process.