Merchandise Planner- Wholesale

5.11; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) program with employer match

Employee discounts

Job summary

A leading outdoor brand in Costa Mesa is seeking a Merchandise Planner to drive revenue and inventory strategies. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in merchandise planning and strong analytical skills. Responsibilities include developing forecasts, managing inventory flow, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. This position offers a pay range of $80,000-$95,000 annually plus bonuses, alongside a comprehensive benefits program including health insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in merchandise planning or demand planning.
• Experience in apparel or consumer goods preferred.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Sales and Merchandising to drive revenue and inventory strategies.
• Lead meetings to align sales and inventory plans.
• Develop product forecasts using sales history and trend analysis.
• Monitor selling trends to identify risks and opportunities.
• Manage inventory flow to achieve productivity goals.

Skills

Merchandise planning

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Excel skills

Collaboration

Communication

Demand forecasting

Tools

Logility

Job description

Born in Yosemite, forged in Quantico and built for adventure. 5.11 is a purpose-driven lifestyle brand, rooted in performance, durability, and versatility. Since 1979, we’ve created gear and apparel for people who live life without limits, delivering gear and apparel that empower them to push boundaries every day.

We’re looking for a strategic, analytically driven Merchandise Planner to partner closely with Sales, Merchandising, and Planning teams to drive channel and category revenue, inventory productivity, and demand accuracy. This role plays a critical part in translating business strategy into actionable merchandise and inventory plans while balancing growth opportunities with inventory risk.

What You’ll Do

• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Merchandising, and Planning to support channel and category revenue and inventory strategies, ensuring alignment to financial and inventory targets.
• Build bottoms-up merchandise plans at the style and color level that align with channel, category, and business objectives.
• Lead regular cross-functional meetings to review performance, align sales, demand, and inventory plans, and provide insights to support timely decision-making.
• Develop new product forecasts using like-style sales history, trend analysis, and informed input from Sales to balance demand potential and inventory risk.
• Utilize Open-to-Buy (OTB) and ladder planning tools to analyze sales and inventory trends, identify opportunities, and optimize demand and supply plans.
• Support preseason OTB planning and manage monthly OTB updates by channel and category.
• Monitor selling trends to proactively identify risks and opportunities, recommending adjustments to forecasts and inventory plans as needed.
• Manage inventory flow and replenishment to achieve service level, sell-through, and productivity goals.
• Leverage deep channel and category knowledge to contribute to the evolution of planning tools, processes, and best practices.
• Create and maintain demand forecasts in Logility, ensuring alignment with historical performance, current trends, and overall business strategy.
• Optimize Logility to improve statistical forecasting and automation for high-volume replenishment items.
• Support tool and process enhancements for higher-volatility, lower-volume styles.
• Apply AI and advanced analytics tools to improve forecasting accuracy and decision-making.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support business priorities and organizational goals.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of experience in merchandise planning, retail or wholesale planning, buying, or demand planning.
• Experience in apparel, footwear, or consumer goods strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with advanced Excel skills; experience with Logility or similar planning systems required.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights and present effectively to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with experience working across multiple functions and global partners.
• Solid understanding of demand forecasting methodologies, inventory modeling, and merchandise planning best practices.

Pay Range

$80,000-$95,000 annually plus bonus based on experience

Benefits

5.11 offers a best-in-class benefits program including: medical, dental and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including: Hospital Indemnity/Accident insurance; Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account; Employee Assistance Program; Paid Time Off/Paid Holidays/Sick Time; Casual Dress Code; and Employee Discounts.

*If you are a regular full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week, you and your eligible dependents may participate in 5.11’s benefits program.*

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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