Merchandise Planner

Michaels Stores; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Michaels Stores in Irving, TX seeks a Merchandise Planner to partner with Buyers and Sr Buyers to drive sales, margin and inventory goals across departments.

You will analyze weekly sales, margin and inventory using Michaels Financial Planning (MFP), support assortment planning, and propose in-season revisions to optimize flows and resets. The role requires 2–5 years in retail, strong numerical analysis, project management, and Excel skills.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in retail
• Numerical analysis and project management experience
• Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel

Responsibilities

• Provide Buyer/Sr Buyer with analysis and recommendations to optimize sales, margin and inventory, in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
• Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in dept strategies
• Optimize seasonal inventory flow
• In season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
• Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals
• Use MFP to create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
• Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
• Incorporates correction of errors
• Recommend 'wave breaks' for seasonal flow
• Recommend optimal inner and master packs
• Partner with pricing and Buyer/Sr Buyer to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
• Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
• Develop and adhere to critical timelines
• Ensure assortments are completed within specific timeframes
• Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations
• Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline
• Implement order placement timing for new product with Buyer/Sr Buyer and replenishment team
• Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast
• Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials
• BS or equivalent
• Business, retail or related field
• Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints
• 2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred

Skills

Numerical analysis

Project management

Retail planning

Analytics

Education

BS or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Job description

Merchandise Planner is key business partner with Buyer and Sr Buyer to ensure achievement of department goals in terms of sales, gross margin and inventory.

Major Activities

Analysis

• Provide Buyer/Sr Buyer with analysis and recommendation to optimize sales, margin and inventory, in season recommendations to optimize seasonal plans
• Ensure corporate inventory initiatives are included in dept strategies
• Optimize seasonal inventory flow
• In season management and execution of basic assortment exit strategies for resets
• Partner with Financial Planner to develop and execute SKU rationalization goals

Purchase Planning

• Use MFP (Michaels Financial Planning) to create weekly sales, margin and inventory plans at subclass level for seasonal and trend programs
• Owns MFP administration for seasonal and basic plans
• Incorporates correction of errors
• Recommend "wave breaks" for seasonal flow
• Recommend optimal inner and master packs
• Partner with pricing and Buyer/Sr Buyer to make appropriate in season MD recommendations for seasonal and trend product
• Evaluate forward buys on market deals and other opportunities
• Develop and adhere to critical timelines

Assortment Planning

• Ensure assortments are completed within specific timeframes
• Participate in assortment plan review with category mgt team for seasonal and SBA assortments by analyzing historical information, and make appropriate recommendations
• Develop and implement MD strategy following reset financial timeline
• Implement order placement timing for new product with Buyer/Sr Buyer and replenishment team
• Monitor progress of reset activities and integrate into MFP sales, margin and inventory forecast
• Update finance partner on any activities that would require updating reset financials
• BS or equivalent
• Business, retail or related field

Minimum Special Certifications or technical skills

• Microsoft Office literate, especially Excel

Minimum Type of experience the job requires

• 2-5 years in retail
• Numerical analysis and project management experience

Other

• Ability to work comfortably on unstructured problems/tasks
• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure and time constraints

Preferred Type of experience the job requires

• 2+ years in retail planning or allocation preferred

Applicants in the U.S. must satisfy federal, state, and local legal requirements of the job.